SPARTANS

Michigan State Spartans Women’s Basketball

• Michigan State suffered defeat to NC State.
• NC State’s guards Aziaha James, Madison Hayes and Saniya Rivers led the way for the Wolfpack.

Michigan State women’s basketball’s Sweet 16 aspirations are no more as the Spartans were eliminated from the NCAA tournament on Monday afternoon in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Spartans were taken out of the game early as NC State romped to a 83-49 victory, while shooting 50% from 3 (15-for-30) at James T. Valvano Arena at William Neal Reynolds Coliseum.

NC State guards Aziaha James, Madison Hayes and Saniya Rivers produced 56 points.

Grace VanSlooten led MSU with 15 points.

Here’s what stood out from the March Madness second-round game:

WOMEN’S SPORTS: The latest news and insider insights from USA TODAY Studio IX.

NC State’s hot start

The 7-seed Spartans (22-10) struggled getting points inside the paint and committed three turnovers in the opening four minutes. The 2-seed Wolfpack (28-6) forced Michigan State to take a timeout after guard Madison Hayes hit her second 3-pointer for a 12-4 edge.

The Spartans went scoreless in the final five minutes of the quarter, going 4-for-18 from the floor. NC State shot 68% as it ran the score to 27-9 to end the first.

NC State’s shooting continued to haunt the Spartans as it pushed the lead to as high as 26 points. VanSlooten put up six points for the Spartans in the quarter as they cut into the lead, but the Wolfpack defense continued to force turnovers leading to open shots opening a halftime lead of 47-23.

Hayes went 5-for-6 from 3 in the half scoring 15 points, leading to the team’s most 3s in a half. James put up 17 points, shooting 70% from the field in the half.

Not so sweet

Things continued to unravel for the Spartans as the Wolfpack continued their fast-paced offense. Michigan State only added 13 points in the third quarter with contributions by Jaddan Simmons and Emma Shumate. Michigan State trailed by 33 headed into the fourth.

The Wolfpack pulled James with under eight minutes left in the game. She finished with 26 points and six 3-point makes.

Michigan State has yet to get back to the Sweet 16 since the 2008-09 season. Meanwhile, NC State will advance for the second straight year.

Contact Eric Guzmán: [email protected]; 313-222-1850. Follow him on X: @EricGuzman90

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