SEATTLE (Interstat) — The Michigan State women’s basketball team used a dominant second quarter to secure an 82-67 victory over Washington at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Thursday night. After trailing 25-14 following the first quarter, the Spartans outscored the Huskies 25-11 in the second period to take a lead they would not relinquish. Kennedy Blair led Michigan State with 21 points and five assists. Rashunda Jones added 17 points and Grace VanSlooten scored 17. The Spartans improved to 15-1 overall by dominating inside, scoring 50 points in the paint and capitalizing on 17 Washington turnovers. Elle Ladine scored 15 points for Washington, which fell to 12-3. Sayvia Sellers added 14 points. The Huskies shot just 22 of 58 from the field and were outrebounded on the offensive glass 11-5. Attendance was 2,858.

SEATTLE (Interstat) — In a clash of surging women’s basketball teams, the Michigan State Spartans used a dominant second quarter and overwhelming interior presence to hand the Washington Huskies just their third loss of the season, 82-67, on Thursday night at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. The game, part of the Big Ten Conference schedule, drew a crowd of 2,858 and saw the visiting Spartans improve to 15-1, while the Huskies fell to 12-3. The contest turned decisively in the second period. After a high-scoring first quarter that ended with Washington holding a 25-24 lead, the Spartan defense clamped down. Michigan State outscored Washington 25-11 in the frame, holding the Huskies to just four made field goals while forcing seven turnovers. That 14-point swing gave the Spartans a 49-36 halftime advantage they would not relinquish. The most important part of the game was that decisive second-quarter run, which established Michigan State’s control. The Spartans, who entered as slight underdogs according to the pregame spread, flipped the script with a 14-2 surge over a five-minute span. Guard Kennedy Blair of Dearborn, Michigan, and forward Grace VanSlooten of Toledo, Ohio, were instrumental during this stretch, combining for 12 points as the Spartans transformed a one-point deficit into a double-digit lead. Washington’s offense, which had flowed smoothly in the opening period, went cold, managing only two field goals in the first seven minutes of the quarter. This stretch proved to be the difference, as the Huskies spent the rest of the night fighting uphill against a disciplined Michigan State squad. Blair led all scorers with 21 points and added five assists. She was complemented by backcourt mate Rashunda Jones of South Bend, Indiana, who scored 17 points and dished out four assists. VanSlooten provided a critical inside presence, matching Jones with 17 points and adding a block. Washington was led by Elle Ladine of San Francisco, who scored 15 points, all in the first half. Sayvia Sellers of Anchorage, Alaska, contributed 14 points and four assists, while Avery Howell of Boise, Idaho, added 10 points. The statistical story of the game was written in the paint, where Michigan State held a commanding 50-18 advantage. The Spartans shot 51.6 percent from the field overall, compared to 37.9 percent for Washington. While the Huskies found more success from beyond the arc, making 12 three-pointers to Michigan State’s five, they could not counter the Spartans’ efficient two-point attack. Michigan State also won the battle on the glass, securing 11 offensive rebounds to Washington’s five, leading to 13 second-chance points. Defensively, Michigan State’s pressure was constant, generating 17 Washington turnovers which they converted into 19 points. The Spartans committed 14 turnovers of their own, but Washington could only muster 12 points off them. The second half saw Washington attempt multiple rallies, but each time Michigan State had an answer. The Huskies cut the lead to nine points early in the third quarter, but a 7-0 Spartan run pushed the margin back to 16. In the fourth quarter, a three-pointer by Sellers brought Washington within 11 with just over four minutes to play, but consecutive baskets by VanSlooten and Blair stretched the lead back to 15 and effectively sealed the outcome. Michigan State continues its West Coast road trip on Sunday at Oregon. Washington will also hit the road for a Big Ten matchup at Purdue on Sunday.

Preview: Michigan State Women Set for Showdown at Washington SEATTLE (Interstat) — A pivotal early-season Big Ten women’s basketball clash is set for Thursday when the Michigan State Spartans visit the Washington Huskies at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. The Spartans (14-1, 3-0 Big Ten), one of the nation’s hottest teams, carry a nine-game winning streak into Seattle. Their lone loss came at Wisconsin on Dec. 7. Washington (12-2, 2-0), receiving votes in the latest AP Top 25, has won three straight and boasts a perfect 8-0 record at home this season. Michigan State is led by dynamic guard Kennedy Blair, who is averaging 13.9 points, 6.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game. She is coming off a near triple-double in an 81-75 win over Illinois on Sunday, posting 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Over her last three games, Blair has averaged 14.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists. The Huskies counter with high-scoring guard Avery Howell, who averages a team-leading 16.9 points per game. Howell has been on a tear in conference play, scoring 22 points in a win over Michigan and 23 in a victory against Northwestern last week. She has scored in double figures in 12 of 14 games this season. This matchup features two of the Big Ten’s most efficient offenses. Michigan State leads the conference in scoring margin (+27.1) and field goal percentage defense (.330), while Washington ranks third in scoring offense (78.1 points per game). The Spartans’ defense, which has held 10 opponents under 50 points, will be tested by a Huskies’ attack that has surpassed 90 points three times. Washington’s two losses came against then-Stanford (67-62) and Southern California (59-50). Michigan State’s resume includes a road win at Clemson and a 49-point victory over DePaul. The game marks the first meeting between the programs as Big Ten conference foes. Following this contest, Michigan State continues its West Coast trip at Oregon on Sunday. Washington hits the road for games at Purdue and Indiana next week. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Thursday.