The Spartans trailed 52-48 when Ayrault knocked down the 3 with 7:28 to play to start the surge. Simmons, Theryn Hallock, Hampton and VanSlooten also had big moments during the run as MSU took control after shooting 36% through the first three quarters. Grace Grocholski had a game-high 23 points for Minnesota (20-10, 8-10).

The Gophers finished 13th in the Big Ten, earning one of the league’s 15 conference tournament spots in Indianapolis. They will likely start with a 2:30 p.m. tip against the No. 12 seed, probably Washington (17-12, 8-9), which whizzed past them last Wednesday at Williams Arena, 72-62.

With just under eight minutes to go in a defensive-minded game at Michigan State on Saturday afternoon, Grace Grochoski drove for a score, putting the Gophers women’s basketball team up four points, and she was fouled.