EAST LANSING — Marah Dystra loved her experience at Montana State.
But she wanted to finish her college basketball career some place that would challenge her and prepare for playing professionally.
Dykstra found that fit in the Michigan State women’s basketball program. The senior and Vancouver native has filled several different roles in her lone season with the Spartans and made it a point to be ready for whenever opportunities arise.
That was the case Wednesday, Feb. 18, as she helped No. 16-ranked MSU roll to a 104-68 victory over Northwestern in a Big Ten contest at Breslin Center.
Dykstra scored a season-high 14 points off the bench on her senior day as the Spartans (21-6, 10-6) ended a two-game losing streak and earned their largest margin of victory in Big Ten play this season.
“Matchups change, roles change and I’m just happy to be available and be there when they need me,” Dykstra said. “I feel like I’m ready to step in when they need me and hopefully get a couple of shots down. It’s just so important of having the mentality of always being ready. You never know when your name is going to get called, if at all, and staying ready and staying present and focusing on every moment is super important.”
Dykstra, who was one of six seniors honored by MSU on Wednesday, scored in double figures for just the second time this season and knocked down 5-of-6 shots from the field and all three of her attempts from 3-point range in her season-best scoring effort.
“Marah is just a winner,” MSu coach Robyn Fralick said. “I feel like she’s a kid where every team she’s been on finds ways to win because she does all the invisible things. She’s a great teammate. She’s a mature competitor. Whatever role we’ve asked her to do she’s done with a great attitude and the right mindset. She’s somebody that the way she works never changes.”
Dykstra was one of five players and three seniors to score in double figures for the Spartans, who were without starting guard Rashunda Jones and reserve Juliann Woodard after both left the Feb. 15 loss at Michigan with injuries.
Senior Grace VanSlooten led the way with a team-best 22 points and seven rebounds and Kennedy Blair had a double-double with 17 points, 10 assists and added seven rebounds.
Senior Jalyn Brown added 15 points and Sara Sambolic, who started in place of the injured Jones, finished with 13 points. Wednesday marked the second time scoring in double figures this season for Sambolic.
“We had some tough losses, I’m not going to lie,” Sambolic said. “We played really good teams, too. We just couldn’t find our rhythm and something was off. Everyone felt like that so this game was super important for us. I think we’re back on the track.”
Grace Sullivan finished with a game-high 23 points to lead Northwestern (8-18, 2-13).
MSU returns to play Sunday, Feb. 22, when it travels to face No. 23-ranked Minnesota in its final regular-season road game.
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway and Bluesky @briancalloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Marah Dykstra’s strong senior day helps MSU women’s basketball rout Northwestern
Reporting by Brian Calloway, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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