Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

VanSlooten, Woodard each score 17 and No. 22 Michigan State women top Eastern Illinois 101-53

[byline]

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Grace VanSlooten and Juliann Woodard each scored 17 points and No. 22 Michigan State beat Eastern Illinois 101-53 on Thursday night.

Michigan State has started 5-0 for the fourth straight season. The Spartans also made 15-plus steals for the fifth game this season, with VanSlooten securing four of Michigan State’s 20.

Michigan State pulled away by starting the second quarter on a 9-0 run to go ahead by double figures for good. The Spartans led 45-28 at halftime behind 14 points from VanSlooten.

VanSlooten scored all three of her second-half points during a 10-0 run to begin the third quarter. Woodard took over in the fourth by scoring 14 of her points on 5-of-6 shooting, including four 3-ponters.

Jalyn Brown added 14 points and Kennedy Blair grabbed 15 rebounds to go with eight points for Michigan State.

Nyah Hardy led Eastern Illinois (0-4) with 16 points.

It was the second meeting between the Spartans and the Panthers, with No. 12 Michigan State winning 85-45 on Dec. 9, 2004. The Spartans went on to reach the Final Four that season.

Up next

Eastern Illinois: Plays at Central Michigan on Saturday.

Michigan State: Continues a six-game homestand on Sunday against Oakland.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.