Tory Ozment, Moira Joiner help Michigan State women's basketball rout Purdue
EAST LANSING — Moira Joiner and the Michigan State women's basketball team have displayed a strong ability to bounce back from losses this season.
The Spartans continued that trend.
Joiner, Tory Ozment and Theryn Hallock each delivered career achievements Wednesday as MSU rebounded from one of its worst performances of the season with a 97-70 rout of Purdue at Breslin Center.
Joiner surpassed 1,000 career points while Tory Ozment and Theryn Hallock each set career highs scoring to help the Spartans rebound from their 19-point road loss to Minnesota.
"To give us a little grace, that was probably the worst we played all season and that was also our first three game week - especially in the Big Ten that's not easy," Joiner said. "We weren't going to let that happen again. This game meant a lot to say we're not a hit and miss team and we're good."
Joiner, who became the 30th player in MSU women's basketball history to reach 1,000 career points, was part of a balanced attack that helped the Spartans have a strong response. She finished with 14 points and reached the 1,000-point mark with a 3-pointer in the opening quarter.
Hallock set a career-high with her game-high 24 points off the bench. She went 10 of 12 from the field while having her second game with at least 20 points this season. Hallock exceeded the previous career-best of 21 points she had against Penn State.
Ozment added a career-best 23 points off the bench and was 7-of-8 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line and also contributed eight rebounds. She exceeded her previous career-high of 19 points she set as a freshman in November 2018.
Julia Ayrault contributed 18 points and nine rebounds and Abbey Kimball added 10 points as MSU had its most lopsided Big Ten win of the season.
"I thought our team really responded after our game on Saturday and we had some special cherry on tops with Mo scoring her 1,000th point and Tory and Theryn finding their career highs," MSU coach Robyn Fralick said. "I was proud of the way we sort of listened and learned and took some of the things after the game Saturday and played some good basketball."
MSU (14-5, 4-4 Big Ten) led by 12 at halftime before breaking things open behind Ozment's big third quarter. Ozment scored 15 points in a third quarter where the Spartans had 30 points. Her production nearly equaled Purdue, which had 18 points in the quarter.
"I think I just tried to find ways to get buckets," Ozment said. "I tried to offensive rebound. That was a challenge this week after the Minnesota loss. That kind of found me a couple points at the line."
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State women's basketball bounces back with rout of Purdue
