The #7 vs # 10 Matchup in the Round of 64
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The Michigan State Spartans’ women’s hoops squad pulled out a solid 64-50 victory over the lower-seeded Harvard in their first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The 7-10 matchup in the Spokane bracket, MSU’s attack started with a 13-2 lead and suffocating defense – a quiet spell allowed the lead to get cut as the first quarter trailed into the second, but not enough to really make the game feel close. Grace VanSlooten had a standout performance, finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. Her juice at the free-throw line (9-for-11) was pivotal in extending MSU’s lead in the second half, as Harvard struggled to do more than think about closing the gap. The Spartans’ balance inside and out, with their quickness complimenting decently-efficient shooting (42.2% – 40% from 3) helped them control the the game wire-to-wire.
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Harvard, led by Harmoni Turner with 24 points, fought hard throughout the game but the team was hampered by poor shooting (28%), especially from beyond the arc, where they managed just 4-of-26 attempts. Despite a strong performance by Turner, who also contributed 6 rebounds and 4 assists, the Crimson couldn’t find consistent scoring beyond her as no one else scored in double digits. Michigan State’s defense kept Harvard off-balance, and the Spartans capitalized on their opponents’ turnovers, with 11 steals to Harvard’s 6. MSU’s season-long ability to spread the scoring, with multiple players contributing (Jocelyn Tate stepped up to put up 13, Theryn Hallock added 10, Julia Ayrault chipped in 8, and Ines Sotelo 7), was also crucial in ensuring that Harvard’s defense couldn’t focus solely on one player – though those efforts seemed to focus on Ayrault. Ultimately, the Spartans’ well-rounded game on both ends of the court earned them a solid win and a ticket to take on #2-seed NC State, at Jim Valvano Arena in Raleigh on Monday (time – TBA). There might be a slight home court advantage for the wolfy-pack, though I’m pretty sure our Spartans don’t care.
Go Green!
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