EUGENE, Ore. (Interstat) — Rashunda Jones scored 23 points as No. 1 Michigan State rallied from an early deficit to defeat Oregon 85-81 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Sunday at Matthew Knight Arena. The Spartans trailed by 11 after the first quarter but held the Ducks to 12 points in the second to seize control. Michigan State improved to 16-1, while Oregon fell to 14-4. Jones added six rebounds for the Spartans. Grace VanSlooten had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Oregon’s Katie Fiso led all players with nine assists to go with 20 points, and Sofia Bell scored 18. The Ducks shot perfectly on 12 free throws but were outrebounded 15-6 on the offensive glass. Attendance was 6,313.

EUGENE, Ore. (Interstat) — Rashunda Jones scored 23 points and No. 13 Michigan State weathered a blistering first-quarter offensive display by Oregon to remain unbeaten in Big Ten play with an 85-81 victory over the Ducks on Sunday at Matthew Knight Arena. The Spartans, who improved to 16-1 overall, trailed by 11 points after a first quarter dominated by Oregon’s Sofia Bell but methodically chipped away at the deficit before seizing control with a decisive third-quarter run. Bell scored 12 of her 18 points in the opening period, connecting on four 3-pointers as the Ducks (14-4) raced to a 31-20 lead. Oregon shot 70% from the field in the quarter, while Michigan State committed six turnovers. The game turned in the second quarter as Michigan State’s defense tightened. The Spartans held Oregon to just 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting and forced seven turnovers, closing the half on a 15-2 run to take a 44-43 lead into the break. Jones had eight points in the quarter, and Juliann Woodard hit two critical 3-pointers during the surge. The most important stretch came early in the third quarter. After Oregon’s Mia Jacobs hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 50, Michigan State embarked on a 13-3 run. Grace VanSlooten, who finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, scored six points during the spurt, and Jalyn Brown capped it with a 3-pointer to give the Spartans a 63-53 advantage with 4:14 left in the period. Oregon would not get closer than four points the rest of the way. Michigan State maintained its lead in the fourth quarter by dominating the offensive glass and capitalizing on Oregon’s mistakes. The Spartans grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, leading to 17 second-chance points, and scored 23 points off 18 Oregon turnovers. Oregon, despite a perfect 12-for-12 performance from the free-throw line, committed five turnovers in the final quarter. Jones, a guard from South Bend, Indiana, added six rebounds and two assists in 37 minutes, continuing a streak of strong performances for the Spartans. Kennedy Blair contributed 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. Oregon was led by Katie Fiso, who had 20 points and nine assists, and Jacobs, who also scored 18 points. Bell’s hot start cooled considerably, as she was held to six points after the first quarter. The Ducks, who entered the game having won six of their last seven, struggled to find consistent offense after the first period. They finished shooting 48.4% from the field but were outrebounded 42-30 by the more physical Spartans. Michigan State, which entered as a slight 1.5-point favorite, covered the spread. The combined score of 166 points went well over the over/under line of 148.5. The game was part of the Big Ten schedule, with an announced attendance of 6,313. The Spartans will look to extend their winning streak when they host Nebraska on Thursday. Oregon travels to face Iowa, also on Thursday.

Top-10 Clash Set as Michigan State Visits Oregon EUGENE, Ore. (Interstat) — A marquee nonconference showdown between two of the nation’s top teams will highlight the women’s college basketball slate Sunday when the Michigan State Spartans visit the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena. The Spartans (15-1), riding a nine-game winning streak, will face their toughest test since a December loss to Wisconsin. Oregon (14-3), bolstered by a strong home-court advantage, looks to secure a program-defining victory against a national title contender. Michigan State’s surge has been fueled by the all-around excellence of guard Kennedy Blair. Over her last eight games, Blair is averaging 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and nearly a block per game, including a triple-double threat of 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a win over Illinois on Jan. 4. She is coming off a 21-point, five-assist performance in Thursday’s 82-67 road win at Washington, where she was supported by 17 points each from Rashunda Jones and Grace VanSlooten. The Ducks counter with their own dynamic guard in Ehis Etute, who is coming off a 17-point, two-block effort in a 71-66 road victory at Southern California on Tuesday. Etute has provided consistent scoring punch, reaching double figures in four of her last six contests. This matchup, organized by the Big Ten, pits two elite offenses. Michigan State has scored 80 or more points in seven games this season, including a 115-point outburst in December. Oregon has topped 85 points five times, but also showed resilience in a gritty road win at USC. The Spartans’ lone blemish was a 78-64 loss at Wisconsin on Dec. 7. Oregon’s defeats have come against ranked opponents Michigan (in double-overtime), Stanford and UCLA, indicating they are battle-tested. Sunday’s contest will be a pivotal benchmark for both squads before diving deeper into their conference schedules. Michigan State opens a tough Big Ten stretch next week against Nebraska and Iowa. Oregon, after this standalone highlight, begins a crucial road swing at Iowa and Wisconsin. Tipoff is set for Sunday afternoon in Eugene. The winner will claim a signature victory that will resonate on Selection Sunday.