Sunday, February 2
Evanston, Ill.
2 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Michigan State
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Set For Sunday Tilt With No. 16 Michigan State
2/1/2025 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
'Cats have won four of last five matchups against Spartans at Welsh-Ryan Arena
EVANSTON, Ill. (February 1, 2025) – Northwestern (7-12, 0-8 B1G) returns to the friendly confines of Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday afternoon to take on No. 16 Michigan State. Tip-off between the Wildcats and Spartans is slated for 2 p.m. CT.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern battled host Iowa for all 40 minutes last Tuesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, as it ultimately came up on the short end of an 85-80 decision. Five Wildcats scored in double figures in the defeat, a quintet led by Melannie Daley and Caileigh Walsh, who each put up 15 points.
Caroline Lau tied a career high by hitting on four three-point attempts on the way to a 13-point, seven-assist outing. Led by Lau's efforts from distance, Northwestern connected on a season-high nine three-point field goals.
On top of adding 12 points of her own, Grace Sullivan dished out a career-best five assists, while Casey Harter scored in double figures for the sixth time this season, chipping in 11 points. Taylor Williams came close to her eighth double-double of 2024-25, closing her night with nine points and a team-best eight rebounds.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
Currently sitting at No. 16 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, Michigan State (17-4, 7-3 B1G) saw its five-game win streak come to an end on Thursday night, dropping a 63-59 decision to visiting Oregon inside the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. Second-year head coach Robyn Fralick's team raced out of the gate this season, opening 2024-25 with a program-record 11-0 start.
While Michigan State boasts an impressive attack that averages 81.7 points (4th in B1G), the Spartans' tenacity on the defensive end has made headlines this season. Michigan State forces a Big Ten-best 24.1 turnovers per contest, a mark that ranks ninth nationally. The Spartans also sit sixth amongst Division I foes in steals per game, averaging a league-high 13.2 thefts.
Julia Ayrault, a First Team All-Big Ten selection a season ago, finds herself in the midst of an outstanding season. The graduate student guard leads the Spartans in both scoring (16.2 ppg) and rebounding (8.0 rpg). Aryault, who has scored in double figures in all 20 of her appearances this season, has also made an impact on the defensive end, piling up a team-high 28 blocks (1.4 bpg).
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Michigan State will battle for the 77th time on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans have rattled off three straight wins over the 'Cats to widen their lead in the all-time series to 47-29 (.618). In the lone meeting between the two teams last season, Daley pumped in a team-high 18 points as Michigan State jumped out to an early lead en route to a 91-72 win at the Breslin Center on January 17, 2024.
Despite its struggles of late in the series, Northwestern has had the upper hand against Michigan State inside Welsh-Ryan Arena, winning four of the last five encounters between the two teams in Evanston.
UP NEXT
Northwestern makes the trip down Interstate 57 to Champaign, Ill. on Thursday, February 6 for a 6 p.m. CT matchup with Illinois inside State Farm Center.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern battled host Iowa for all 40 minutes last Tuesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, as it ultimately came up on the short end of an 85-80 decision. Five Wildcats scored in double figures in the defeat, a quintet led by Melannie Daley and Caileigh Walsh, who each put up 15 points.
Caroline Lau tied a career high by hitting on four three-point attempts on the way to a 13-point, seven-assist outing. Led by Lau's efforts from distance, Northwestern connected on a season-high nine three-point field goals.
On top of adding 12 points of her own, Grace Sullivan dished out a career-best five assists, while Casey Harter scored in double figures for the sixth time this season, chipping in 11 points. Taylor Williams came close to her eighth double-double of 2024-25, closing her night with nine points and a team-best eight rebounds.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
Currently sitting at No. 16 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, Michigan State (17-4, 7-3 B1G) saw its five-game win streak come to an end on Thursday night, dropping a 63-59 decision to visiting Oregon inside the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. Second-year head coach Robyn Fralick's team raced out of the gate this season, opening 2024-25 with a program-record 11-0 start.
While Michigan State boasts an impressive attack that averages 81.7 points (4th in B1G), the Spartans' tenacity on the defensive end has made headlines this season. Michigan State forces a Big Ten-best 24.1 turnovers per contest, a mark that ranks ninth nationally. The Spartans also sit sixth amongst Division I foes in steals per game, averaging a league-high 13.2 thefts.
Julia Ayrault, a First Team All-Big Ten selection a season ago, finds herself in the midst of an outstanding season. The graduate student guard leads the Spartans in both scoring (16.2 ppg) and rebounding (8.0 rpg). Aryault, who has scored in double figures in all 20 of her appearances this season, has also made an impact on the defensive end, piling up a team-high 28 blocks (1.4 bpg).
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Michigan State will battle for the 77th time on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans have rattled off three straight wins over the 'Cats to widen their lead in the all-time series to 47-29 (.618). In the lone meeting between the two teams last season, Daley pumped in a team-high 18 points as Michigan State jumped out to an early lead en route to a 91-72 win at the Breslin Center on January 17, 2024.
Despite its struggles of late in the series, Northwestern has had the upper hand against Michigan State inside Welsh-Ryan Arena, winning four of the last five encounters between the two teams in Evanston.
UP NEXT
Northwestern makes the trip down Interstate 57 to Champaign, Ill. on Thursday, February 6 for a 6 p.m. CT matchup with Illinois inside State Farm Center.
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