Michigan State’s women didn’t just beat Oakland on Wednesday night - they rolled through the Golden Grizzlies with balance, depth and a defense that never let the game breathe. The Spartans won 91-40 at Breslin Center in their Hoops for Troops game, improving to 3-0 while extending their series winning streak to 19 straight. Michigan State now leads the all-time matchup 23-4.
Five Spartans finished in double figures, and the scoring was spread all over the floor. Graduate guard Theryn Hallock led the way with 18 points, plus eight rebounds and four assists.
Freshman forward Kathy-Emma Otto delivered her first collegiate double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while also adding three steals. Monique Bobongie chipped in 15 points and seven boards.
Kennedy Blair filled the box score with 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and freshman center Lilly Williams added 12 points in just 15 minutes.
Oakland got 12 points from Makenzie Luehring, but she never found the kind of rhythm that usually lifts her above that mark. Michigan State’s defense kept the Grizzlies from settling in, and the Spartans controlled the game from the opening minutes.
The first quarter set the tone. Michigan State ripped off a 10-0 run to build a 12-3 lead and force an early Oakland timeout.
The Spartans weren’t done there, scoring nine more in a row to push the margin to 21-6 with under two minutes left in the period. By the end of the quarter, MSU was in front 27-8, with Blair leading all scorers with eight points in the opening 10 minutes.
Oakland opened the second quarter with the first four points, but Michigan State answered with a 12-2 burst to stretch the lead to 39-16. The Grizzlies made things a little more difficult in the second half of the period, and the Spartans went 1-for-7 from the field to close the half.
Even so, Michigan State still carried a 51-26 lead into the break. The Spartans had five 3-pointers in the first half after struggling from long range against Toledo on Nov.
- Williams had nine points by halftime, while Blair led all scorers with 10.
The third quarter brought another surge. Michigan State used an 11-0 run to go up 64-28 after a Tabitha Betson basket with under six minutes left in the period.
Hallock was the engine there, scoring 11 of MSU’s 24 points in the quarter. Freshmen also kept piling on, with Otto, Williams, Emma Broliron and Bobongie combining for 11 points in the frame.
The fourth quarter slowed for both teams, and Oakland went nearly six minutes without a field goal. Michigan State stayed comfortably ahead by 40-plus for most of the period, and its largest lead came at 44 points after a Broliron 3-point play with 3:20 left.
The Spartans finished with 50 points in the paint and got 33 points from their bench. They also continued to show plenty of activity on the defensive end, finishing with 14 steals and a season-high six blocks.
Michigan State now heads back on the road to face Harvard on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. The Spartans and Crimson last met in the first round of the 2024-25 NCAA Tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
For the third straight game, Michigan State started Kennedy Blair, Theryn Hallock, Monique Bobongie, Tabitha Betson and Kathy-Emma Otto, and the Spartans are 3-0 with that lineup.
Otto’s double-double came one game after Blair posted the first double-double of the season for Michigan State with 28 points and 11 rebounds against Toledo on Nov. 7. The Spartans also recorded double figures in steals for the third straight game, after posting 20 against Valpo and 13 at Toledo.
Lilly Williams led MSU with a season-high three blocks, and she was 8-for-9 from the field and 1-for-1 from beyond the arc in just her third game back from missing much of last season.
Five Spartans grabbed at least five rebounds, led by Otto’s 10. Hallock had eight, Bobongie seven, Blair six and Williams five.
In Other News...
Mel Tucker Is Trying To Change The Vibe Around Spartan Football
With Washington coming to town, Michigan State has spent the lead-up trying to make sure the atmosphere matches the opponent. Mel Tucker and athletic director Dan Bartholomae have been out in the student community, making the rounds at local bars, speaking directly to students and pushing them to show up and bring some life back to Spartan football. The pitch has gone beyond words, too, with tickets and concession vouchers handed out as part of the effort.
It is the kind of outreach that says the program understands the game-day vibe has become part of the story around this team. Michigan State is trying to tighten the bond between the football program and the Spartan community, and the timing matters with a marquee nonconference game on deck. Whether all of that translates into a fuller student section and a louder stadium will be one of the more interesting things to watch once kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Roberts Could Change Everything For MSU Against Washington
Michigan States injury report is starting to look a little more encouraging heading into Washington, and the biggest name on it is defensive lineman Ben Roberts. After being sidelined by injury, Roberts has been upgraded to questionable for the matchup, a sign the Spartans may be getting closer to full strength at a spot where depth can matter in a hurry. Cornerbacks Charles Brantley and Tre Bell, along with backup quarterback Cam Fancher, are also in the questionable mix, leaving plenty of uncertainty as the Spartans prepare for a game that could hinge on availability as much as scheme.
Washington has its own injury question to sort through with star quarterback Demond Williams Jr. also listed as questionable, adding another layer to a game already shaped by health concerns on both sides. Michigan State coach Pat Fitzgerald has said he is hopeful some of the injured players can work their way back later this season, which makes this week feel like more than just a single-game update. For a team trying to stabilize itself, getting Roberts back on the field could be a meaningful step if he is able to go. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Women Just Showed How Dangerous This Deep Roster Can Be
Michigan States women kept rolling with a 91-50 win over Oakland, and the most encouraging part for the Spartans was how many different players shaped the game. Theryn Hallock set the tone with a strong all-around showing, while freshmen Manique Bobongie and Lily Williams made their presence felt on both ends of the floor. It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone this roster has more than one way to take control of a game.
Kennedy Blair added another layer to that depth with aggressive defense, rebounding and playmaking as Michigan State stayed comfortably ahead throughout. For a team trying to build momentum, wins like this matter not just because of the margin, but because they show how quickly the rotation can produce impact from top to bottom. The Spartans looked deep, active and difficult to match, which is exactly the sort of problem opponents will have to solve going forward. [Read more 🡒]