EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — Grace VanSlooten scored 22 points to lift Michigan State to a 73-71 win over Nebraska in a women’s basketball game Thursday night at Breslin Events Center. The Spartans improved to 17-1 overall after holding off a late Cornhuskers rally. Nebraska fell to 14-3. Michigan State led 24-19 after the first quarter and maintained a narrow edge throughout. Nebraska’s Amiah Hargrove scored 21 points, and Britt Prince added 16. The Cornhuskers closed the gap to one point late, but Michigan State secured the win at the free-throw line. Rashunda Jones added 15 points for the Spartans, and Kennedy Blair had 14. Attendance was 4,273.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — In a tense, back-and-forth Big Ten battle defined by critical plays in the final seconds, No. 17 Michigan State survived a furious Nebraska rally to remain atop the conference standings with a 73-71 victory Thursday night at Breslin Center. The Spartans, who improved to 17-1 overall, saw a 10-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate but made the necessary defensive stops and free throws in the final minute to escape before a crowd of 4,273. The Cornhuskers, who fell to 14-3, had a chance to tie or win on their final possession but committed a costly turnover. The game’s decisive sequence unfolded in the closing seconds. With the score tied at 71, Nebraska’s Logan Nissley lost control of the ball on the perimeter with 27 seconds remaining. Michigan State’s Rashunda Jones pounced on the steal, her fifth of the game, giving the Spartans possession. After a timeout, Jones drove the lane but missed a layup. Teammate Juliann Woodard grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled with 5 seconds left. Woodard, a reserve forward, calmly sank both free throws to put Michigan State ahead 73-71. Nebraska, out of timeouts, could only manage a desperate heave from beyond half-court by Britt Prince that fell short as time expired. The frantic finish capped a game where Michigan State’s efficiency and Nebraska’s carelessness with the ball proved pivotal. The Spartans scored 73 points on just 70 possessions, an offensive rating of 103.5, while Nebraska managed 71 points on 72 possessions, a rating of 98.4. The Cornhuskers committed 20 turnovers, leading to 15 points for Michigan State, which had 15 turnovers of its own. Michigan State was led by a dominant performance from Grace VanSlooten. The 6-foot-3 forward from Toledo, Ohio, scored 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor and added four assists and a block in 30 minutes. Her interior scoring was a constant challenge for Nebraska’s defense. The Cornhuskers were carried by the offensive prowess of Amiah Hargrove. The 6-foot-2 guard from Christopher, Illinois, poured in 21 points in just 25 minutes, shooting 9-of-14 from the field. Prince, the standout guard from Omaha, Nebraska, added 16 points and four assists for Nebraska. Michigan State established control early, using a 10-0 run to close the first quarter, capped by a Kennedy Blair-assisted three-pointer from Ines Sotelo at the buzzer, to take a 24-19 lead. The Spartans extended their advantage to 12 points in the second quarter before Nebraska closed the half on a 7-2 spurt to trim the deficit to 36-33 at intermission. The third quarter was a stalemate, with Michigan State outscoring Nebraska 19-21 to maintain a slim 55-54 lead heading to the final period. The Spartans then opened the fourth with an 8-2 run, keyed by two VanSlooten layups, to build their largest lead at 63-54 with 7:02 to play. Nebraska refused to fold. Hargrove spearheaded the comeback, scoring nine points in the final five minutes. Her driving layup and subsequent free throw completed a three-point play with 4:49 left, pulling the Cornhuskers within two at 66-64. After a Michigan State turnover, Hargrove tied the game at 66 with another layup at the 4:00 mark. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes. Prince hit a tough jumper to tie the game at 69 with 48 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Jones was fouled and made both free throws to put Michigan State back up 71-69 with 39 seconds remaining. Prince answered again, draining a pull-up jumper to knot the score at 71 with 27 seconds left, setting the stage for the dramatic final sequence. Beyond the turnover disparity, Michigan State’s advantage at the free-throw line was significant. The Spartans made 16 of 20 attempts, while Nebraska was an efficient 12 of 13. Michigan State also won the battle on the glass, securing eight offensive rebounds to Nebraska’s five, and blocked six shots. Blair finished with 14 points and six assists for Michigan State, while Jones had 15 points and five assists. For Nebraska, Petra Bozan contributed eight points and three assists. The victory keeps Michigan State perfect in Big Ten play and extends their winning streak to nine games. Nebraska, which had won five of its last six, will look to rebound on the road at Wisconsin next Wednesday. Michigan State travels to face Iowa on Sunday in another key conference matchup.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — A marquee Big Ten women’s basketball showdown is set for Thursday night when the Michigan State Spartans host the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the Breslin Center. The matchup features two of the conference’s hottest teams. Michigan State (16-1, 4-0 Big Ten) enters on a 10-game winning streak, its lone loss coming at Wisconsin on Dec. 7. Nebraska (14-2, 3-1) has won 10 of its last 11, with both losses this season to ranked opponents (Iowa, Southern California). The game will be a showcase of elite guard play. Nebraska sophomore Britt Prince has been dynamic, averaging over 20 points in her last four games. She is coming off a 20-point, 7-assist performance in a 78-73 win over Indiana on Jan. 8. Michigan State counters with junior standout Rashunda Jones, who is averaging 17.3 points over her last six contests. She powered the Spartans with 23 points and 6 rebounds in an 85-81 road win at Oregon on Jan. 11. Nebraska’s high-powered offense, which has topped 78 points in four straight games, will face a stern test against a disciplined Michigan State defense that has held 10 opponents under 66 points. The Spartans’ interior defense, led by forward Grace VanSlooten who posted a double-double at Oregon, will be key against a balanced Cornhusker attack that features scorers like Jessica Petrie and Logan Nissley. This contest marks the start of a brutal stretch for both teams. Michigan State visits Iowa on Sunday, while Nebraska continues its road trip at Wisconsin next Wednesday. A win Thursday would provide crucial momentum and a signature conference victory for either contender. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.