RALEIGH, N.C. — Michigan State’s women’s basketball team is gearing up for a formidable opponent as they prepare to face N.C. State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans are aiming to progress beyond this stage for the first time since 2009.
Head coach Robyn Fralick of Michigan State emphasized the significance of the opportunity that lies ahead. “The opportunity in front of us, I think that’s what you’re always working for is opportunities and creating new opportunities,” Fralick shared. “That’s what we have in front of us.”
The game’s venue adds another layer of difficulty. N.C. State, a second seed with a 27-6 record, hasn’t lost an NCAA Tournament game in their home city for the past 42 years. Meanwhile, Michigan State, seeded seventh with a 22-9 record, has not managed consecutive wins since January.
Michigan State guard Nyla Hampton highlighted their mindset towards the challenge, stating, “No one wants to just walk their way through the tournament. You want to earn everything you get.”
N.C. State boasts a spotless 17-0 record at home this season, bolstered by reaching the Final Four last year. However, Michigan State prides itself on its defensive prowess, having set a program record with 384 steals this season. “Road experience in the Big Ten, we play in front of sold-out crowds and packed environments and loud and all the things that make women’s basketball so fun and at the platform it’s on right now,” said Fralick. “… This place is going to be rocking. It’s going to be loud.”
The dynamics of the game promise to be intense, with Michigan State often utilizing two post players, a stark contrast to N.C. State’s guard-oriented lineup. Wes Moore, N.C. State’s coach, expressed some concerns given his team’s youth in interior positions.
N.C. State’s offensive strength comes from its guards, led by Aziaha James, who averages 17.8 points per game, along with Zoe Brooks, Saniya Rivers, and Madison Hayes, all consistently contributing double-digit points. For seniors James, Rivers, and Hayes, this match marks their final home appearance. “I try not to think about it too much like this is my last time being in here,” Hayes commented. “But just worry more about the game, and then after we can have the emotional piece.”
Fralick and Moore, who once faced each other in different capacities as player and coach, have a shared history dating back to the Southern Conference when Fralick, then Robyn Flewelling, played for Davidson and Moore coached Chattanooga. “The basketball world becomes small pretty fast,” Fralick noted. Reflecting on past encounters, Moore acknowledged Fralick’s achievements, stating, “It’s a great accomplishment for her to be at a Power 4 school like Michigan State, and she’s done a heck of a job with it.”
The game tips off at an unusual noon start time, catching many fans off guard as it coincides with regular daytime classes on the campus. While Moore recognized the inconvenience, he also pointed out to his team that morning practice sessions during the season’s first semester might aid them in adjusting to the early game time. “Maybe I’m not sexy enough so they didn’t want me in prime time,” Moore joked.