Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, February 18
East Lansing, Mich.
5:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
8-18,2-13Big Ten
68
at
104
Michigan State
21-6,10-6Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Northwestern
14
14
22
18
68
Michigan St.
23
32
23
26
104
Photo by: Rey Del Rio/Northwestern Athletics
‘Cats Drop Road Contest At No. 18 Michigan State
2/18/2026 7:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Sullivan leads all scorers with 23 points
EAST LANSING, Mich. (February 18, 2026) – No. 18 Michigan State (21-6, 10-6 B1G) got off to a red-hot start, shooting just shy of 60 percent in the first half, as it defeated Northwestern (8-18, 2-13 B1G), 104-68, this evening inside the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich.
How It Happened
Casey Harter put the 'Cats in front with 25 seconds gone, driving inside to make it 2-0. Following a 9-0 surge by the hosts, a second-chance bucket from Tayla Thomas and a Caroline Lau three pulled Northwestern back within two, 9-7. Xamiya Walton connected from deep at the 1:14 mark to cut the Spartans' lead to six, 20-14, before Kennedy Blair answered with a triple of her own to give Michigan State a 23-14 edge at the end of the first quarter.
Grace Sullivan knocked down her first jumper of the night on Northwestern's opening possession of the second frame, drilling a step back attempt to trim the gap to seven, 23-16. Sullivan found the mark again just over a minute later to trim the deficit to eight, 26-18, but Michigan State responded with eight unanswered points en route to charging into halftime with a 55-28 advantage.
Northwestern would get no closer than 27 during the second half, as Michigan State secured its 10th Big Ten Conference win of the season.
Gallery: (2-18-2026) Women's Basketball at #18 Michigan State
Inside The Box Score
- Sullivan led Northwestern with a game-high 23 points (11-20 FGs, 1-2 FTs), in addition to four rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.
- Sullivan now has 17 games of 20-plus points this season.
- Harter added 14 points (5-12 FGs, 1-5 3FGs, 3-4 FTs) and six rebounds.
- Harter has scored in double figures nine times during Big Ten play.
- Lau flirted with only the third triple-double in program history, closing her night with nine points (2-6 FGs, 1-3 3FGs, 4-6 FTs), seven rebounds, and 10 assists.
- This evening marked Lau's eighth game of double-digit assists in 2025-26.
- Amparo López provided a spark off the bench, finishing with season-high totals of nine points (4-6 FGs, 1-3 3FGs) and four assists.
- Grace VanSlooten paced Michigan State with 22 points (10-17 FGs, 2-4 FTs).
Up Next
Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a 2 p.m. CT tip-off against Illinois on Sunday, February 22.
How It Happened
Casey Harter put the 'Cats in front with 25 seconds gone, driving inside to make it 2-0. Following a 9-0 surge by the hosts, a second-chance bucket from Tayla Thomas and a Caroline Lau three pulled Northwestern back within two, 9-7. Xamiya Walton connected from deep at the 1:14 mark to cut the Spartans' lead to six, 20-14, before Kennedy Blair answered with a triple of her own to give Michigan State a 23-14 edge at the end of the first quarter.
Grace Sullivan knocked down her first jumper of the night on Northwestern's opening possession of the second frame, drilling a step back attempt to trim the gap to seven, 23-16. Sullivan found the mark again just over a minute later to trim the deficit to eight, 26-18, but Michigan State responded with eight unanswered points en route to charging into halftime with a 55-28 advantage.
Northwestern would get no closer than 27 during the second half, as Michigan State secured its 10th Big Ten Conference win of the season.
Inside The Box Score
- Sullivan led Northwestern with a game-high 23 points (11-20 FGs, 1-2 FTs), in addition to four rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.
- Sullivan now has 17 games of 20-plus points this season.
- Harter added 14 points (5-12 FGs, 1-5 3FGs, 3-4 FTs) and six rebounds.
- Harter has scored in double figures nine times during Big Ten play.
- Lau flirted with only the third triple-double in program history, closing her night with nine points (2-6 FGs, 1-3 3FGs, 4-6 FTs), seven rebounds, and 10 assists.
- This evening marked Lau's eighth game of double-digit assists in 2025-26.
- Amparo López provided a spark off the bench, finishing with season-high totals of nine points (4-6 FGs, 1-3 3FGs) and four assists.
- Grace VanSlooten paced Michigan State with 22 points (10-17 FGs, 2-4 FTs).
Up Next
Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a 2 p.m. CT tip-off against Illinois on Sunday, February 22.
Team Stats
NU
MSU
FG%
.519
.527
3FG%
.333
.500
FT%
.571
.684
RB
33
34
TO
17
5
STL
3
13
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
11
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
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