ROCHESTER, Mich. — The Golden Grizzlies prepare to travel to East Lansing to take on the Michigan State (MSU) Spartans on Sunday.
Oakland returns to the court after a weeklong break from action, last playing on Nov. 15 and 16 in the Raising the B.A.R Invitational, hosted by the University of California, Berkeley.
The Golden Grizzlies suffered losses to Harvard and Charlotte at the invitational but saw a pair of impressive individual performances from guard
Filippa Goula. The graduate guard from Greece averaged 12 points per game — scoring in double digits in both contests — and 4.5 rebounds per game in Berkeley, earning an All-Tournament Team spot during the weekend.
The Golden Grizzlies and the Spartans face off for the 17th time in their histories, and for the 15th straight year in the annual showdown. Oakland is still searching for its first-ever win against MSU.
The Spartans come into the game with a 5-0 record, most recently topping Eastern Illinois 101–53 at home. MSU has played all five of its games in East Lansing, scoring 90-plus points in each contest and 100-plus in three, as its offense gets off to a roaring start.
Grace VanSlooten has led the charge for the Spartans, averaging a team-high 15.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, along with 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. VanSlooten and the Spartans will provide a strong test for a feisty Oakland defense that has forced the sixth-most turnovers (82) of any Horizon League team.
Lianna Baxter has been a defensive anchor for Oakland, ranking second in the conference with 1.4 blocks per game and leading the league with seven total blocks. She also ranks in the top 11 in steals per game (1.8), showcasing her ability to protect both the rim and the passing lanes.
Oakland's offense will have to shoot at a high clip — well within its ability — led by sharpshooting guard
Cali Denson, whose 12 points per game lead the team. Shooting .394 from three while averaging 2.6 triples made per game (second-most in the Horizon League), she has scored 15-plus points three times already this season.
Angie Smith has also found her role offensively for the Golden Grizzlies, averaging 10.4 points per game.
The Mitten State faceoff goes down on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. at the Breslin Center and will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
