EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — The Michigan State women’s basketball team delivered a dominant performance Thursday night at the Breslin Center, overwhelming Eastern Illinois in a lopsided non-conference victory.

The Spartans improved to a perfect 5-0 on the young season, while the Panthers remained winless, falling to 0-4.

From the opening tip, Michigan State established control, racing out to a 25-19 lead after the first quarter. The Spartans’ offense was relentless, while their defense consistently disrupted Eastern Illinois’s rhythm. The Panthers managed just 9 points in the second quarter, allowing Michigan State to build a 45-28 halftime advantage.

Any hope of an Eastern Illinois comeback was extinguished in the third quarter as the Spartans erupted for 27 points, extending their lead to 72-38. Michigan State closed the game with its highest-scoring quarter, putting up 29 points in the final period to cruise to the decisive win.

Michigan State’s offense was a balanced and efficient machine, led by a standout performance from Grace VanSlooten. The 6-foot-3 forward from Toledo, Ohio, scored 17 points, adding two assists and two blocks in just 22 minutes of action. Juliann Woodard provided a massive spark off the bench, matching VanSlooten’s 17 points and contributing three assists in a highly efficient 13 minutes on the floor.

The Spartan backcourt also orchestrated the offense effectively. Theryn Hallock of Grand Rapids, Michigan, dished out a team-high five assists to go with six points, while Rashunda Jones of South Bend, Indiana, led all players with six assists. Jalyn Brown, a guard from Baltimore, Maryland, chipped in 14 points.

For Eastern Illinois, guard Nyah Hardy was a bright spot in the loss. The Houston native played a team-high 30 minutes and scored 16 points. Forward Abbie Boutilier, standing 6-foot-10 from Flower Mound, Texas, added 8 points and two blocks. Adriana Arroyo came off the bench to contribute 8 points for the Panthers.

The game was played before an announced crowd of 2,756 at the Breslin Events Center.

The Spartans will look to continue their unbeaten streak when they host Oakland on Sunday. Eastern Illinois, still in search of its first win, travels to face Central Michigan on Saturday.