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Tory Ozment
Tory Ozment gave everything for the Spartans last season and may have been snubbed for the Big Ten Sixth Player Award, which went to the equally hard-working Theryn Hallock. Forced into playing heavy minutes at the 4 due to injuries, she transitioned well from guard to forward, providing the size we needed to compete in the Big Ten. While she wasn’t a starter, she split minutes with Jocelyn Tate at the 3 and filled in at the 4 whenever Ayrault got into foul trouble. It was a tough adjustment for a guard, especially defending centers in a physically demanding Big Ten, but Ozment’s defense kept us afloat when Ayrault faced foul issues. Despite her position change, her energy off the bench, often alongside Hallock, made our press more effective. A true Spartan, we were fortunate the 6th-year senior didn’t test the transfer portal.
What We’re Losing:
Ozment’s contributions go beyond her stats. While playing out of position, she averaged 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench, helping us stay competitive in conference play. Her defensive versatility allowed her to guard positions 3-5, disrupting opponents and facilitating more steals for our guards. Offensively, she adapted as a stretch 4, shooting 34% from beyond the arc, and excelled at finishing tough layups against taller defenders.
This year, Julia Ayrault is our only proven three-point shooting forward, hitting 35% from deep last season. To fill Ozment’s absence, we’ll likely run fewer guards, which should help with rebounding but may decrease our three-point effectiveness. Her minutes will be distributed among Ayrault, Tate, Vanslooten, and potentially Sotelo, Holley, or Shumate. This depth should prevent us from relying on a seven-player rotation, allowing fresher bodies on the court.
Where She’s Going:
Ozment’s move to Nashville brings her closer to her home state of Georgia. While coming off the bench behind Tate may have hindered her pro aspirations, we wish her the best in her post-MSU journey, and hope her Michigan State degree serves her well.
Moira Joiner
Moira “Mo” Joiner had a long and impactful Spartan career, spending five years in green and white, with only one season cut short by injury. As a go-to shooting guard in her first season as a starter, she improved her shooting, finishing 2023-2024 ranked 8th nationally in three-point percentage at 44.2%. The Spartans relied on Mo as both a spot-up shooter and a creator when the shot clock ran down. Defensively, she was trusted to guard some of the Big Ten’s top players. Although she didn’t always win those matchups, she was never a liability. Mo’s tenacity, especially in high-pressure moments, set her apart from her teammates.
What We’re Losing:
Mo was a jack-of-all-trades. Alongside her elite shooting, she averaged 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1 steal per game. Despite her 5’10” frame, she played with physicality and contributed significantly to our press defense. Her speed created fast-break opportunities, and her savvy ball movement fit perfectly into Coach Fralick’s scheme. Mo was especially effective at making the extra pass when defenses collapsed on her, resulting in many of her assists.
We’ll look to Abbey Kimball to fill the void left by Mo’s departure. Kimball, who shot 36.4% from three last season, will need to handle more of the shooting and ball-handling responsibilities. Behind Kimball, our depth at shooting guard includes transfers Jaddan Simmons and Emma Shumate. While Simmons brings solid defense and starting experience from Arizona State, she lacks Mo’s three-point shooting ability. Shumate offers good size and shooting but has less starting experience.
While we shouldn’t expect an upgrade at shooting guard, the new starters should maintain our guard rotation’s scoring and defensive capabilities.
Where She’s Going:
Mo has signed with Baxi Ferrol in Spain’s top-tier Liga Femenina. Ferrol, undergoing a roster overhaul, will feature both Mo and NC State’s Mimi Collins in its starting five. As two of the team’s most proven scorers, Mo will likely see significant minutes in her first pro season. Keep an eye on her career if you enjoy following Spartans overseas.
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