VanSlooten delivers Michigan State’s NCAA message with a double-double and more
PHOTO: Michigan State coach Robyn Fralick directs her team against Harvard at Reynolds Coliseum on the North Carolina State campus.
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By TOM SHANAHAN
RALEIGH – Michigan State’s Grace VanSlooten, a transfer from Oregon, heard repeatedly from coach Robyn Fralick and her teammates that the Spartans needed to avoid a repeat of last year’s jittery NCAA Tournament opening-round loss.
She was new to the NCAA experience playing for her first season with the Spartans, but she demonstrated the message came through loud and clear with a double-double. She led the seventh-seeded Spartans (22-9) past No. 10 seed Harvard (24-5) late Saturday afternoon 64-50 at Reynolds Coliseum on North Carolina State’s campus.
VanSlooten, a 6-foot-3 junior from Toledo, finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, but her more impressive stats were arguably found in other columns. She drew 10 fouls in a physical game and converted 9-of-11 free throws. At the same, she didn’t commit a foul or yield a turnover.
Sometimes zero is the largest number on the stat sheet.
“I honestly just had a lot of fun,” VanSlooten said. “I had never been in the NCAA Tournament, and I was excited. I think we played with a lot of intensity. We really wanted this win and that’s what we went out and did. I’m happy we’re one of the 32 teams still playing.”
The Spartans return to Kay Yow Court in the historic arena on Monday night to face second-seeded NC State. The host won the first game of the double-header, defeating No. 15 seed Vermont, 75-55. The Wolfpack finished the regular season as ACC champions and ranked No. 9 in the nation.
MORE OF MY NCAA COVERAGE RALEIGH
March 19: Reynolds wraps history around basketball in the South and the women’s game – Tom Shanahan Report
March 23: Michigan State’s women face 22-game homecourt winning streak and Final Four veterans – Tom Shanahan Report
March 23: Fralick building reputation with her game plans – Tom Shanahan Report
March 24: NC State’s hot hands end Michigan State’s season – Tom Shanahan Report
NC State, a Final Four team a year ago, provides a challenge, but it’s certainly better than the alternative. In the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the Spartans were newcomers to the pressure after having missed the tournament the previous two seasons and three of the last four.
The ninth-seeded Spartan drew what seemed to be even matchup against No. 8 seed North Carolina at South Carolina’s arena, but they didn’t play on an even level. Michigan State dug a 23-10 first quarter hole and lost 59-56 despite outscoring the Tar Heels in the second and fourth quarters.
“This is a big step for us,” said Fralick, who is two-for-two guiding the Spartans to the NCAA post-season. “We were here last year, and I think we learned a lot about what the tournament is like and what it feels like. I thought we were prepared.”
The preparation showed in the Spartans’ defensive effort on Harvard’s Harmoni Turner, a prolific scorer who led the Crimson to the Ivy League title as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. She scored 40 points in the semifinals and 24 in the final.
PHOTO: Michigan State junior Grace VanSlooten led the Spartans with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Junior Jocelyn Tate, a 5-10 guard/forward, was assigned to Turner to start the game, but the Spartans also rotated Jaddan Simmons and Nyla Hampton on her. All three, though, also received help in the game plan by teammates.
“Although my matchup was Harmoni, I felt like it was a team effort,” Tate said. “We practiced and worked on it. We communicated well and we moved well together.”
Turner finished with 24 points, but it was the way the Spartans’ teamed up to make her work for her shots. She was 7-of-22 from the field and 2-of-10 from three-point range. Her 8-of-9 free throws helped her top her 22.5 scoring average.
Tate, who finished with 13 points, added, “We wanted to keep her off the three-point line and gap help in the paint.”
Although the Spartans successfully focused on a fast start with an 11-0 lead midway through the first quarter and a 13-2 lead moments later, Harvard’s full-court pressure and ability to deflect passes into the paint slowed the offense. Michigan State’s only two points over the final 5:27 of the first period were free throws from Julia Ayrault with 22.1 seconds left to settle for a 15-11 lead.
The sloppy offensive continued in the second quarter as the Spartans led only 24-19 at intermission. Michigan State’s points were coming off free throws and converting a steal into a transition basket. Set plays ended in turnovers over missed shots.
In the third period, Harvard closed to 26-25 until Michigan State’s offensive rhythm returned. VanSlooten sparked an 11-0 run with a three-point play followed by two free throws after she was fouled on a fastbreak. The run continued when rapidly improving 6-3 freshman Ines Sotelo and Tate hit buried back-to-back three-point field goals for a sudden 37-25 advantage.
“I think we got away from our ball movement,” VanSlootten said. “We started the game off pushing the ball in transition and swinging it around. We got away from that, which hurts our game. It definitely made our offensive more stagnant and easier to guard.”
Another difference in the game was Michigan State’s ability to better cope with two teams playing similar full-court pressure and with similar physicality. Harvard was called for 25 fouls to Michigan State’s 16. Harvard starter Saniyah Green fouled out, while Turner and Gabby Anderson finished with four fouls.
Michigan State hit 22 of 27 free throws to Harvard’s 10 of 12.
“I thought Grace did a good job imposing her will in the paint in second half,” Fralick said. “When we did defensive rebound, we had numbers advantage. I thought we were aggressive going the rim. We were getting to the free throw line and getting and-ones.”
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Tom Shanahan is an award-winning sportswriter and frequent contributor to Spartanmag.com in addition to posting on his website. His new book on Michigan State leading college football integration is, “THE RIGHT THING TO DO, The True Pioneers of College Football Integration in the 1960s.” His first book was “RAYE OF LIGHT, Jimmy Raye, Duffy Daugherty, the Integration of College Football and the 1965-66 Michigan State Spartans.”
I invite you to follow me on Twitter @shanny4055
Below are links to click on to purchase my books focused.
My books tell the true story of college football integration in the 1960s and address the myths and fiction that allowed a false narrative surrounding the 1970 USC-Alabama game to usurp the credit from the true pioneers. As I said when I spoke at the National Sports Media Association book festival, no two books provide an accurate portrayal more than RAYE OF LIGHT and THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I’ll put my facts up against anybody, anytime, anywhere. Watch here.
Click here for my story on the 1962 Rose Bowl and Segregation awarded first place by the Football Writers Association of America. I tell untold stories on Michigan State’s leading role and the true pioneers of college football integration. Click here to read the summary as a first-place story.
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Click here to purchase The Right Thing To Do
THE RIGHT THING TO DO
The True Pioneers of College Football Integration in the 1960s
Foreword by Ruffin McNeill
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Click here to purchase Raye of Light.
RAYE OF LIGHT
Jimmy Raye, Duffy Daugherty, the 1ntegration of College Football and the 1965-66 Michigan State Spartans
Foreword by Tony Dungy
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Click here to purchase my children’s book, Bubba’s Dad, Duffy and College Football’s Underground Railroad
The book for now is only a Kindle version on Amazon. Print and audio platforms available soon.
