Nebraska Women's Basketball Preview: Michigan State

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. #20 Michigan State Spartans

Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 7 p.m. (CT)

Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, Nebraska

Tickets: Huskers.com / 1-800-8-BIG-RED

Special Event: Youth Sports NightT

elevision/Live Stream: NPM/B1G+ Larry Punteney (PBP), Kara Graham (Analyst)

Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (6:30 p.m.)Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (590 AM), Huskers.com, Huskers App

Live Stats: Huskers.com (statbroadcast – public)

Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-4, 2-2 Big Ten)

12 – Jessica Petrie – 6’2 – So. – F – 4.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg

40 – Alexis Markowski – 6’3 – Sr. – C/F – 13.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg

2 – Logan Nissley – 6’0 – So. – G – 6.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg

14 – Callin Hake – 5’8 – Jr. – G – 7.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg

23 – Britt Prince – 5’11 – Fr. – G – 12.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg

Off the Bench

5 – Alberte Rimdal – 5’9 – Sr. – G – 6.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg

44 – Petra Bozan – 6’3 – Fr. – F/C – 5.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg

33 – Amiah Hargrove – 6’2 – Fr. – F – 4.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg

15 – Kendall Moriarty – 6’1 – Sr. – G – 3.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg

3 – Allison Weidner – 5’10 – RJr. – G – 3.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg

32 – Kendall Coley – 6’2 – Gr. – F/G – 2.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg

22 – Natalie Potts [Out] – 6’2 – So. – F – 14.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg

4 – Kennadi Williams – 5’4 – Fr. – G – Redshirt

Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998) Ninth Season at Nebraska (148-115); 18th Season Overall (341-224)

Michigan State Spartans (12-2, 2-1 Big Ten)

40 – Julia Ayrault – 6’2 – Gr. – F – 16.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg

15 – Ines Sotelo – 6’3 – Fr. – C – 5.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg

1 – Jaddan Simmons – 5’9 – Gr. – G – 7.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg

4 – Theryn Hallock – 5’10 – Jr. – G – 12.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg

11 – Jocelyn Tate – 5’10 – Jr. – G/F – 8.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg

Off the Bench

14 – Grace VanSlooten – 6’3 – Jr. – F – 13.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg

33 – Juliann Woodard – 6’0 – Fr. – F – 6.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg

35 – Kennedy Blair – 5’9 – RFr. – G – 5.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg

5 – Emma Shumate – 6’1 – Jr. – F – 4.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg

22 – Nyla Hampton – 5’7 – Gr. – G – 4.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg

2 – Abbey Kimball – 5’10 – Jr. – G – 4.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg

Head Coach: Robyn Fralick (Davidson, 2004) Second Season at Michigan State (34-11); 11th Season Overall (226-87)

Scouting the Spartans

#20 Michigan State comes into Lincoln with a 12-2 record, including a 2-1 start to Big Ten play. In Robyn Fralick’s second year as the Spartans coach, she has developed an aggressive defense that ranks #7 nationally in turnovers forced (25.8 pg) and eighth in turnover margin (+20).

The Spartans also carry a plus 4.9 rebound margin on the season. Through three Big Ten games, MSU has maintained a plus 10.7 turnover margin, but have been beat on the boards by 4.3 rebounds a game. On the season, Michigan State is averaging 83.6 points per game while holding opponents to 56.8 points per game. In conference play, those numbers have fallen to 70.3-65.7.

In the first three conference games, MSU is hitting 36.1 percent from the floor, including 25.7 percent from three, also knocking down just 65.7 percent of their free throws. These numbers are quite a bit lower than it’s overall field goal (45.0%), 3pg (33.4%), and free throw (70.6%) on the season.

Julia Ayrault leads the Spartans averaging team bests of 16.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, including 17 three pointers.

Junior guards Theryn Hallock (12.1 ppg) and Jocelyn Tate (8.4 ppg) offer some experience for MSU. Tate has been efficient in scoring early this season as the only Michigan State player to start all 14 games. Hallock leads the Spartans with 3.1 assists and ranks third on the team with 16 threes.

Oregan transfer, Grace VanSlooten ranks second on the team in scoring (13.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.2), while leading MSU with 18 blocks. Arizona State transfer Jaddan Simmons has contributed 7.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.

Two more transfers in Emma Shumate (Ohio State) and Nyla Hampton (Bowling Green/Ball State) have added threats as well. Shumate leads the Spartans with 18 made threes while starting seven games and averaging 4.7 points per game. Hampton, has tallied 4.6 points per games.

Nebraska leads the all-time series with MSU 12-6, the Huskers won both meetings a year ago. A Big Ten opener with the Spartans (80-74) and a 73-61 win in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan State has never won a game a road game over Nebraska.