MSU Women’s Basketball: Impressive Start to the Season
- Tobias Webb
- Nov 18, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 23, 2025
Four games into the season, the Spartans already look formidable. With seven new players on the roster, MSU started the season strong against Mercyhurst, scoring the most points (125) and committing the fewest turnovers (3) in a game in program history. The Spartans currently lead the Big Ten in several major statistics: scoring, assists, turnover margin, steals per game, bench points, and more. They rank in the top ten nationally in all of these categories and lead college basketball in assist-to-turnover ratio. Although MSU hasn’t faced any truly challenging teams yet, they are winning convincingly and look poised to be a force in the Big Ten once again.
Elite Scoring
It’s year three for head coach Robin Fralick. The winning culture she has instilled has led to better recruiting, resulting in a team full of capable contributors. Six Spartans are averaging over ten points per game, with two of them coming off the bench. The Spartans’ emphasis on team play allows everyone to shine and stresses opponents, who must adjust to different lineups and keep up with their speed and depth.
Grace VanSlooten is once again a force on the court, leading the Spartans with 17 points per game. Most of her points come from layups in the low post, but she is also unafraid to shoot mid-range from around the elbow when she’s open or when a defensive mismatch occurs. Her 62 percent shooting from the field keeps the Spartans steady, but she needs to improve her 58 percent shooting on free throws.
Theryn Hallock continues to use her speed to secure easy fast-break buckets, many of which she creates herself. She excels at firing out of a cannon in half-court defense for a quick steal and layup. Hallock averages 13.8 points per game, but she can do even more if she improves her three-point percentage, as she currently takes 5.5 attempts per game and only scores 1.5 of those.
Isa Alexander has been a pleasant surprise for Spartans fans. After two seasons sidelined by injury, she has clearly improved her offensive abilities. Her footwork in the low post allows her to maneuver around defenders for easy layups, and she is hitting an impressive 81 percent of her shots. While this is mostly against shorter opponents, it’s reassuring to know that when Grace VanSlooten needs a break, the Spartans still have a solid post presence in Isa.
New Players Contributing Early
While the Spartans returned a strong core of players, this year’s freshman class and transfers have already proven their worth. Rashunda Jones, formerly of Purdue, leads the transfers in production with 11.8 points, 4.5 assists, 3.8 steals, and just one turnover per game. Her quick hands on defense have made her a natural fit for the Spartans. From the beginning of the season, she has led the Fralick-coached Spartans in steals, which is no easy feat. Jones has also proven herself as a point guard, sharing the “quarterback” role with Kennedy Blair. She has seamlessly filled the role vacated by Jaddan Simmons, who graduated after last season, and is likely to start for the remainder of her college career.
Jalyn Brown leads the bench in scoring with 11.3 points per game. When she checks in, she brings a new energy to the press defense. Although she is credited with only two steals per game, her defensive impact forces many errors that lead to turnovers. Her relentless effort has resulted in several ten-second violations. Until Inés Sotelo returns from injury, Brown is the best player for disrupting inbounders and executing quick doubles in press. She has also proven versatile on offense, shooting 65 percent from the field. Brown often takes mid-range shots when left open but scores most of her points near the rim. Her euro-step is particularly effective due to her long strides and quickness, especially when matched up against a guard.
Marah Dykstra may not be flashy, but she has hit five of her ten three-pointers this season. She does a good job interrupting opponents' passing lanes and moving around on defense. Dykstra has a well-rounded game and has yet to reach her full potential with this team.
Our leading three-point shooter, by percentage, is freshman Amy Terrian, who is shooting 53 percent from deep on good volume. She rotates in for 14 minutes a game during the second and fourth quarters and makes her presence felt. Terrian is unafraid to shoot, even from a step or two behind the three-point line, and has already punished players for underestimating her shot. She also takes on some point guard duties and is vocal on both ends of the floor. The early impression she’s giving fans is hopeful, suggesting that she could one day lead the young core of this team.
Focus on Team Play
The Spartans lead the country in assists per game with 27.5 and have the best assist-to-turnover ratio with 3.1 assists for every turnover. These statistics exemplify the selflessness and speed of the Spartans. Everyone is expected to pass; all five starters and two bench players average at least two assists per game. The entire squad runs the floor, and playing time is spread among many players, keeping everyone fresh. This allows the Spartans to take advantage of opposing teams, pushing the ball ahead of defenders for easy fast-break layups. They accomplish all of this with solid efficiency, committing only 8.8 turnovers per game.
The Spartans’ bench scoring, at 44.8 points per game, ranks third in the country as Fralick experiments with different lineups. While these numbers may dip as the team relies more on starters in Big Ten play, this experienced team is well-prepared. Depth can always be tested by injury, and any bench player's role could expand unexpectedly, making it encouraging to see them perform well in the early games.
Our starting point guard, Kennedy Blair, has steadily improved after sitting out her first season due to injury. The coaching staff praised her during the offseason, and she is excelling in her new, larger role. Blair leads the Spartans with 7.5 assists per game and has an excellent feel for the team. She instinctively makes passing decisions, knowing her teammates will be in the right spots. Her passes have been impressive, including great cross-court fast-break passes, passing out of trouble on drives to the rim, and finding bigs on tight shovel passes while running the baseline. The sophomore has a long way to go but is showing a ton of promise, proving why Fralick trusts her to be the floor general for this great Spartans team.
The Spartans play again on Thursday, Nov. 20, against Eastern Illinois.
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