Rutgers University
8-5,0-2Big Ten
Michigan State
12-1,1-1Big Ten
Women's Basketball Drops Hard-Fought Battle to Michigan State
Dec 28 | Women's Basketball
EAST LANSING, MICH. – Rutgers women's basketball (8-5, 0-2 B1G) dropped a hard-fought contest to No. 24/21 Michigan State (12-1, 1-1 B1G), 70-64, on Sunday afternoon.
Nene Ndiaye led the way with 16 points, while Faith Blackstone (15), Imani Lester (11) and Kaylah Ivey (10) also reached double digits. Ivey also picked up her 500th career assist.
KI is on the money 💰🎯
— Rutgers Women's Basketball (@RutgersWBB) December 28, 2025
That's 500 career dimes for our PG 👏#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/LSRNrntx3H
The close contest featured 10 lead changes and three ties.
How it Happened
- Both teams got out to a slow start, but Michigan State struck first with the first three points of the game.
- Nene Ndiaye got Rutgers on the board with just under six minutes to play. Janae Walker followed up with a layup to take the 4-3 edge.
- The Spartans added a layup, but Nene Ndiaye cashed in on two more buckets to complete an 8-2 run before the 4:22 media timeout. RU remained in front, 8-5.
- MSU hit a pair of free throws out of the stop to put the contest within one, 8-7.
- After a basket from both teams, MSU broke away for five consecutive points to go up, 13-10, and force a Scarlet Knights timeout with 2:44 remaining.
- The opposition continued a 11-2 run with another two shots at the line, but Faith Blackstone stopped the scoring with her first three-pointer.
YUP👌
— Rutgers Women's Basketball (@RutgersWBB) December 28, 2025
📺 B1G+
📊 https://t.co/mljQat0IjA#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/8RK1xFvwC5
- Blackstone hit another two shots at the charity stripe to tie the score, 15-all, with just over a minute to play. The score would remain knotted at the end of the opening period.
- Michigan State started the second quarter with eight in a row to get ahead, 23-15, and force another RU timeout with 6:09 on the clock. The opponent continued the run with another deep shot out of the pause.
- Blackstone got Rutgers going on the next possession with a second chance layup. She followed up with two free throws to cut the deficit, 26-19.
- MSU added a layup, but Rutgers took the momentum back with points from Imani Lester and Blackstone to put the contest within four points, with under 3:30 to go.
- The teams traded baskets in the final minute of play, but the Spartans still went into the locker room with the 32-27 lead.
- Rutgers outscored MSU 6-2 in the opening three minutes, before an opponent timeout at 7:45. The strong offensive production put the contest within one point, 34-33.
- Kaylah Ivey dished out her third assist of the game and her 500th career helper in the span.
- The Spartans hit a three out of the stop, but then it was all RU as the team went on a 5-0 run to take the lead, 38-37.
- The Spartans hit two shots at the line to break up the stretch, but Deja Young continued her strong play off the bench with a layup just before the 4:34 media timeout.
DEJA YOUNG ‼️🤩
— Rutgers Women's Basketball (@RutgersWBB) December 28, 2025
📺 B1G+
📊 https://t.co/mljQat0IjA#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/EDB05hmUBp
- Nene Ndiaye cashed in on two shots at the line to extend RU's lead, 42-39.
- Michigan State bounced back however, with nine consecutive points to get back in front by six, with just under three minutes to play.
- Lester got the Scarlet Knights back on track with a layup and a jumper, but the opponent matched the points each time.
- Lester continued her own run with three free throws to end the third quarter, but MSU stayed on top, 52-49.
- Ivey kicked off the final 10 minutes with two free throws to put the score back within one point, 52-51.
- The teams went onto trade points back and forth over the next handful of possessions, but Michigan State stayed ahead, 59-56, with 7:05 to go.
- Both teams netted free throws through the 5:45 mark to keep the three-point difference. Before the 4:31 media timeout, the Spartans cashed in on a layup, but the Scarlet Knights did one better with a three from Ivey to cut the gap back to two points, 63-61.
- Neither team scored until the 1:51 mark, when Michigan State netted two shots at the line to bring the advantage to four points.
- With 57 seconds remaining, Ivey drained a clutch three after a big steal from Zachara Perkins to put the gap back at one point.
LIKE WE SAID, CLUTCH.
— Rutgers Women's Basketball (@RutgersWBB) December 28, 2025
📺 B1G+
📊 https://t.co/mljQat0IjA#GoRU | #RUWBB | #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/DrzINMSi49
- However, MSU came up with a jumper just before a Rutgers timeout with 30 seconds to play, 67-64.
- The opposition finished out the day with free throws to clinch the 70-64 victory.
Knights Notes
- Nene Ndiaye finished with a team-best 16 points, her 12th double digit outing this season.
- Faith Blackstone (15), Imani Lester (11) and Kaylah Ivey (10) also reached double digits.
- Sunday's performance marks the fourth time this campaign four Scarlet Knights have reached 10+ points.
- Kaylah Ivey registered five assists at Michigan State, helping to clinch her 500th career helper.
- Ivey tied for her third best total of the season with five dimes. She has dished three or more helpers eight times this season, including six of the last seven outings.
- Rutgers led Michigan State in rebounds, 44-36.
Next Up
Rutgers will continue Big Ten play at home against Wisconsin on Thursday, Jan. 1 at 2 p.m.
Follow Along
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