VanSlooten Powers No. 12 Michigan State Past Penn State in Second-Half Surge
UNIVERSITY PARK - For three quarters, it looked like Penn State might just pull off the upset. But Grace VanSlooten and No. 12 Michigan State had other plans.
VanSlooten put on a clinic in the paint, finishing with 20 points and 14 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season, and the Spartans stormed back from a 15-point first-quarter deficit to beat Penn State 81-70 on Saturday afternoon.
It was a tale of two halves for Michigan State (20-4, 9-4 Big Ten), who found themselves down 28-13 after the first quarter. But instead of folding, the Spartans responded with poise, turning up the defensive pressure and executing with precision on offense. They outscored the Nittany Lions 48-25 in the second half, including a dominant 27-18 fourth quarter that sealed the comeback win.
VanSlooten was the engine all game long, going 9-of-18 from the field and controlling the glass with 14 boards. Her presence inside opened up the floor for Michigan State’s guards, and they took full advantage.
Jalyn Brown added 16 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting, while Rashunda Jones chipped in 14 points and a team-high five assists. Kennedy Blair also reached double figures with 12 points, giving the Spartans a well-rounded offensive attack.
But make no mistake - this game was anything but easy.
Penn State (8-16, 1-12) came out swinging behind a sensational performance from freshman guard Kiyomi McMiller, who dropped a career-high 37 points. She was electric, hitting 16-of-33 shots and keeping the Nittany Lions in front for much of the afternoon.
McMiller’s scoring outburst was one of the most impressive individual performances of the Big Ten season so far. She showed off her full offensive arsenal - pull-up jumpers, drives to the rim, and deep threes. Freshman Tea Cleante added 10 points, but Penn State struggled to find consistent offense beyond that duo, especially in the second half.
Michigan State’s defense tightened up after halftime, holding Penn State to just seven points in the third quarter - a stretch that completely flipped the momentum. The Spartans also won the rebounding battle, 38-34, with VanSlooten leading the charge.
From beyond the arc, Michigan State went 7-of-27, with forward Ava Terrian knocking down three triples off the bench to give the Spartans a much-needed spark. Jones, Brown, and Shumate each added one from deep.
Penn State, meanwhile, shot 6-of-17 from three, with McMiller hitting three of her four attempts. But the Nittany Lions couldn’t keep pace once Michigan State found its rhythm.
With the win, Michigan State continues to solidify its place near the top of the Big Ten standings, while Penn State is still searching for answers in conference play. The Nittany Lions will look to regroup before heading to College Park for a matchup with No. 22 Maryland on Thursday.
Le Moyne Tops Saint Francis in Wire-to-Wire Win
LORETTO - Le Moyne used a balanced attack and steady scoring across all four quarters to take down Saint Francis 62-50 on Saturday at DeGol Arena.
Ashley Buragas led the way with 23 points and eight rebounds, putting together a strong all-around performance that kept Le Moyne in control from the opening tip. The Dolphins outscored Saint Francis in every quarter, using a 17-point second quarter to build a cushion they never relinquished.
Sonia Sato led Saint Francis with 13 points, while Gemma Walker added 11. The Red Flash struggled to find offensive consistency, shooting just 16-of-62 from the field and 5-of-26 from three-point range.
Le Moyne made the most of its opportunities at the line, going 20-of-22 on free throws, and got contributions from up and down the roster. Postell added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while E. Clark chipped in eight.
Saint Francis falls to 2-21 overall and 2-10 in NEC play, while Le Moyne improves to 7-18 and 5-7 in the conference.
Wilt Leads Penn State Altoona to Statement Win Over La Roche
ALTOONA - In a battle at the top of the AMCC standings, Lanie Wilt made sure Penn State Altoona came out on top.
The Altoona Area High School product poured in 30 points to lead her team to a 61-54 win over La Roche on Saturday, handing the Redhawks their first conference loss of the season.
Wilt was in attack mode all game, scoring from all three levels and setting the tone on both ends of the floor. Avana Sayles added 11 points and 10 rebounds, giving the Lions a strong inside presence to complement Wilt’s perimeter play.
With the win, Penn State Altoona improves to 15-6 overall and 10-2 in the AMCC, while La Roche drops to 12-10 and 12-1 in conference play. The Lions now turn their attention to a midweek matchup with Mount Aloysius on Wednesday.
This was a statement win for a team that’s been building momentum all season - and with Wilt playing at this level, Altoona’s ceiling keeps getting higher.