EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — A surging Michigan State women’s basketball team will look to continue its dominant start to the season when it hosts Rutgers in a Big Ten Conference matchup Sunday at Breslin Center. The Spartans (11-1) have won five straight since their lone loss at Wisconsin on Dec. 7, including a 66-49 victory over Mississippi on Monday. Michigan State has been formidable at home, winning all six contests by an average margin of 49.2 points. Forward Grace VanSlooten has been a key contributor, averaging 12.6 points per game. She scored 16 points with three assists in the win over Mississippi. Rutgers (8-4) enters after a 54-45 home win over Lafayette on Dec. 20, which snapped a two-game skid. The Scarlet Knights have struggled against high-major competition, with losses to Iowa (79-36) and Princeton (81-63) this month. They will rely on guard Faith Blackstone, who is coming off a season-high 22-point performance against Lafayette. Blackstone averages 9.8 points per game. The matchup pits Michigan State’s high-powered offense, which has scored 90 or more points four times, against a Rutgers team that has held opponents under 60 points in seven of its eight wins. The Spartans’ defense has been equally stifling, allowing just 46.8 points per game at home. This game opens the Big Ten schedule for both teams. Rutgers begins a challenging January slate, while Michigan State looks to establish itself as a conference contender. The Spartans won both meetings last season. Tip-off is set for Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025.