TOLEDO, Ohio — Kennedy Blair poured in 28 points and grabbed 11 boards over 35 minutes Saturday, carrying Michigan State past Toledo 72-64 at Savage Arena.
The junior guard added four assists and made 10 of 14 free throws. It was her first double-double of the year and the seventh of her career. Theryn Hallock chipped in 14 points and six rebounds, and freshmen Emma Broliron and Monique Bobongie scored eight apiece even after picking up fouls. Michigan State improved to 2-0. Toledo fell to 0-2, and the all-time series is now even at 4-4; the programs had not met since a 2018 WNIT game.
Michigan State jumped ahead 8-4, then cooled off. Toledo answered with an 8-0 burst to lead 12-10 with about 2:30 left in the first quarter after consecutive threes from Ella Weaver. The Spartans called time and answered with a 10-0 run of their own to close the period 20-12, with Blair scoring eight in the quarter.
Toledo opened the second on a 10-2 spurt and tied the game at 22 on a Kendall Carruthers three. The Rockets held Michigan State without a basket for a long stretch to start that quarter, and the Spartans were 0-for-10 from long range until Broliron connected with 1:29 left. Michigan State still took a 31-23 lead into halftime after Toledo missed its last eight shots of the half.
Hallock’s three made it 40-30, and Anna Terrian’s three with 45 seconds left in the third pushed the margin to 55-37, the high-water mark. Toledo, led by Jyah LoVett’s 16 points, Carruthers’ 14 and Evalyse Cole’s 12 points and eight rebounds, chipped away. The Rockets had the better of the last period by five, 22-17, and got the lead down to six after a LoVett layup before Hallock scored on a breakaway layup in the final three seconds.
Michigan State made only 4 of 22 threes, an 18.2 percent clip that was its worst from deep since mid-January. Michigan State forced 18 turnovers, finished with 13 steals and blocked five shots. The Spartans welcome Oakland next Wednesday night, tip at 6:30.
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