“We knew coming in that Purdue has been really good at home ... some of their size stuff we knew that could be a challenge,” MSU head coach Robyn Fralick said following the game. "We were very focused on them [Purdue], but obviously a quick turnaround to play a really good Michigan team."

Following the blowout Big Ten road win, the Spartans have plenty to build on as they prepare for their rivalry matchup with Michigan.

Kennedy Blair is the engine of the team

By the end of the first quarter, redshirt sophomore guard Kennedy Blair had already made her presence felt. In the opening 10 minutes, Blair totaled eight points, three assists, and four steals, setting the tone for the rest of the night.

Blair was a pest defensively, helping MSU force seven steals in the first quarter alone and sending an early message that scoring would not come easily against the Spartans. Her impact stretched across every aspect of the game, as she finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, five steals, and a block.

Blair has consistently shown she is the conductor of the Spartans’ offense, whether pushing the pace or creating high-quality looks for her teammates. Against Purdue, her value on both ends was on full display. Her instincts in passing lanes and ability to disrupt shots set the defensive intensity and fueled the energy of an MSU team that now sits at 19-2.

"Kennedy does such a good job of just putting relentless pressure on the other team," Fralick said. "She's really aggressive in transition, she gets in the paint, and she's a really good finisher in the paint."

MSU’s aggressive defense overwhelmed Purdue early

Purdue entered the game aware of MSU’s aggressive, turnover-forcing defense, but preparation did little to slow the Spartans. The Boilermakers struggled to maintain possession early, turning the ball over eight times in the first quarter.

By the final buzzer, Purdue had committed 16 turnovers, with MSU converting those mistakes into 16 points. It was another example of what happens when teams fail to take care of the ball against the Spartans — games can get ugly quickly.

MSU forced 9 steals and 11 turnovers by halftime to build a 50-23 lead heading into the locker room. Once Purdue cleaned things up in the second half, committing just five turnovers, the Boilermakers outscored the Spartans 42-36. The damage, however, had already been done.

Post defense remains a concern

Despite the convincing win, MSU’s struggles defending post players continued. In a previous matchup at Iowa, efficient post play burned the Spartans, and Thursday’s game followed a similar pattern.

Purdue freshman forward Avery Gordon, a 6-foot-7 presence making her first career start, scored 20 points on an efficient 9-of-11 shooting. While Gordon’s performance did not affect the outcome, it raised concerns moving forward.

This is not the first time MSU has struggled to guard the paint, and it may not be the last in a Big Ten loaded with post talent — including No. 2 UCLA center Lauren Betts, who visits the Breslin Center on Feb. 11. There is no reason to believe Fralick and her squad will not improve in this area, but allowing that level of production from a freshman raises concern.

The Spartans improve to 19-2 overall and now turn their attention to an in-state rivalry showdown against No. 9 Michigan (17-3, 8-1 Big Ten). The rivals will tip off Sunday at noon in East Lansing, as MSU will look to remain undefeated at home.