At Rec Hall in University Park, Pennsylvania, the energy was palpable as Penn State and No. 13 Michigan State clashed in a Big Ten women’s basketball showdown on February 7, 2026. What began as a dominant display by the Lady Lions turned into yet another chapter in Michigan State’s recent mastery of this rivalry, with the Spartans mounting a stirring comeback to secure an 81-70 victory.
Let’s set the stage: Penn State, eager to snap a tough run in conference play, came out firing. Sophomore guard Kiyomi McMiller was nothing short of spectacular from the opening tip. She poured in a career-high 37 points, hitting 16 field goals—a personal best—while grabbing eight rebounds, handing out three assists, and notching a steal. Her efforts sparked the Lady Lions to their best first quarter of the season, racing to a 28-13 lead after 10 minutes. Penn State shot a blistering 68.9% from the field and 60% from beyond the arc in that stretch, making Rec Hall’s crowd believe an upset was brewing.
Freshman guard Tèa Clèante added to the fireworks, notching her third-straight double-figure scoring game with 10 points, along with two assists and two steals. The Lady Lions’ 28 first-quarter points marked their highest-scoring opening frame since January 2025, and their 15-point lead was their largest first-quarter advantage since November 2024. Everything seemed to be going Penn State’s way as they ended the first half up 45-33, with McMiller already over 20 points and Clèante and Viktoria Ranisavljevic providing steady support.
But Michigan State, under head coach Robyn Fralick, has made a habit of not folding under pressure. The Spartans entered the contest looking to end a two-game skid and improve their Big Ten standing, and they did just that with a display of grit and resilience. Senior forward Grace VanSlooten anchored the Spartans with a monster double-double—20 points and 14 rebounds, her fifth of the season and 12th in her MSU career. She also contributed three assists and two steals, continuing her season-long streak of stuffing the stat sheet.
Senior guard Jalyn Brown added 16 points, while junior guard Rashunda Jones chipped in 14 points and a team-high five assists. Redshirt-sophomore Kennedy Blair played through early foul trouble to tally 12 points and seven boards. Off the bench, freshman Amy Terrian proved the x-factor, draining three crucial three-pointers in the third quarter to spark a 13-0 run that would change the game’s complexion entirely.
So, how did the Spartans turn a 16-point second-quarter deficit into a double-digit win? The answer lies in a relentless second-half surge. Michigan State outscored Penn State 48-25 after halftime, including a staggering 20-0 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters. The Spartans, who had struggled from deep early (just 3-of-20 from three-point range through two and a half quarters), suddenly caught fire, going 4-of-7 from beyond the arc in the game’s decisive stretch. Terrian’s trio of threes, combined with VanSlooten’s old-fashioned three-point play, gave MSU its first lead since the opening minutes, 54-52, as the third quarter expired.
“Amy gave us a huge lift off the bench,” said a beaming Robyn Fralick after the game. “Her confidence shooting the ball in that stretch was contagious, and the team fed off that energy.”
The fourth quarter saw the Spartans flex their depth and composure. Jones was particularly clutch, scoring 12 of her 14 points in the final period and going a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Michigan State’s defense, meanwhile, clamped down, holding the Lady Lions scoreless for over seven minutes spanning the late third and early fourth quarters. By the time Jones converted an and-one to make it 75-64, the Spartans had seized full control.
Penn State, for all its early brilliance, struggled to regain its rhythm. McMiller continued to battle, slicing the deficit with tough jumpers, but the Lady Lions could not match Michigan State’s balanced attack down the stretch. The Spartans finished with four players in double figures and out-rebounded Penn State 38-34, while also forcing 15 Lady Lion turnovers. For Michigan State, the victory snapped their two-game losing streak, improved their record to 20-4 overall and 9-4 in conference play, and marked their fifth straight win over Penn State—nine out of the last ten in the series, to be exact.
VanSlooten’s performance was historic on multiple levels. Her 14 rebounds matched her jersey number and gave her the 13th double-digit rebounding game of her Spartan career. With her 20 points, she’s now scored in double figures in 22 of 24 games this season and 106 of her 118 career collegiate contests. Her presence on both ends was a constant source of stability for the Spartans, especially when the game seemed to be slipping away early.
“We just kept believing,” VanSlooten reflected. “Even when we were down, we trusted our game plan and each other. That’s what makes this team special.”
For Penn State, the loss drops them to 8-16 overall and 1-12 in Big Ten play. Still, there were bright spots. McMiller’s 37 points marked her 23rd double-figure game of the season and 38th of her career, while Clèante continues to show promise as a freshman. The Lady Lions’ explosive first quarter and aggressive defense—nine steals on the night—showed that, despite their record, they can compete with the conference’s best when firing on all cylinders.
Looking ahead, Michigan State will ride this momentum back home to face No. 2 UCLA on February 11—a marquee matchup with major implications for Big Ten and national rankings. The Spartans, now 6-2 in true road games and 15-1 when scoring 80 or more points, look poised for a strong finish as the regular season winds down.
As for Penn State, the challenge remains to turn flashes of brilliance into sustained success. With McMiller and Clèante leading the way, the Lady Lions have the building blocks, but consistency will be key as they navigate the remainder of conference play.
Saturday’s game was a testament to the drama and unpredictability of college basketball. For Michigan State, it was a comeback for the ages; for Penn State, a lesson in resilience and the promise of what could be with a little more polish. The Big Ten race just got a little more interesting, and both teams will surely have their say before it’s all said and done.