EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 21/19 Michigan State women’s basketball returns home to the friendly confines of the Breslin Center for the first time since Dec. 15, hosting Purdue on Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 2 p.m. for a New Year’s Day battle. The game will be streamed on B1G+ with Alexis Ayala and Jack Stager on the call.
• After a 72-66 loss to No. 8 Maryland on Dec. 29, Michigan State suffered its second loss of the season and have lost back-to-back regular-season games for the first time since Feb. 8 and 11 last season. MSU now stands 11-2 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play.
• Purdue comes to town with a 7-6 overall record and are 0-2 in the Big Ten with losses to Iowa on the road and Maryland at home. The Boilermakers have played a very tough schedule facing, South Carolina, Notre Dame and Kentucky.
• MSU’s defense forced 25 Maryland turnovers, registering 25+ turnovers by the opposition for the third game in a row after 29 vs. Alabama (12/20) and 30 vs. Montana (12/19) in back-to-back days. Overall, it was the Spartans’ eighth game this season forcing 25+ turnovers.
• Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault is 10th in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 16.7 ppg. She is also 15th in the league in rebounding with 7.7 rpg.
SCOUTING PURDUE
Purdue comes to East Lansing with a 7-6 overall record and an 0-2 mark in Big Ten contests. The Spartans and the Boilermakers have played the same two league teams. MSU defeated Iowa at home and fell to Maryland on the road. Purdue lost to Iowa on the road and fell to Maryland at home.
Purdue has two players in double figures led by Destini Lombard, who is averaging 12.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Reagan Bass is second in scoring with 11.9 ppg. The Boilermakers entered the Big Ten play battle tested with the second toughest NET strength of schedule in the league at 28, behind USC’s 22.
Purdue head coach Katie Gearlds is in her fourth season as the head coach of the Boilermakers with a 58-51 record. Overall, she is in her 12th season as a head coach with eight seasons at Marian. Her overall record is 286-101.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE BOILERMAKERS
Purdue leads the overall series with Michigan State, 44-39. The series is getting closer over the years. Michigan State has won five of its…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Michigan State University Athletics…