Friday, March 22
Columbia, S.C. / Colonial Life Arena
11:30 AM ET
Michigan State University
vs
North Carolina
MSU Women Set to Face North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament Friday
3/19/2024 5:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Spartans and the Tar Heels are meeting for the first time since 2014.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball returns to the NCAA Tournament. The No. 9-seeded Spartans will face No. 8-seeded North Carolina on Friday, March 22 at 11:30 a.m. at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. Courtney Lyle and Carolyn Peck will be on the call for ESPN2.
• The Spartans come to Columbia with a 22-8 overall record after losing in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on March 8. The Tar Heels are 19-12 heading into the first round also falling in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.
• Overall, the Spartans are making their 19th overall trip to the "Big Dance." MSU has made it to the NCAA Tournament in 16 of the last 21 completed seasons. MSU is 19-18 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• Michigan State is making its second trip to Columbia, S.C. for the NCAA Tournament, also playing there in the 2017 First Round, when the Spartans were also the No. 9 seed, falling to No. 8 seed Arizona State, 73-61.
• The Spartans are fairly new to the NCAA Tournament with only three players having any NCAA experience. Graduate Tory Ozment has played in two NCAA games, while graduate Moira Joiner and graduate Julia Ayrault have both played in one game.
• Theryn Hallock is only the second Spartan to earn Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year honors. All-American Kalisha Keane was voted Sixth Player of the Year during the 2009-10 season.
SPARTANS IN THE BIG DANCE
First-year head coach Robyn Fralick is the first-ever Michigan State women's basketball head coach to lead the Spartans into the NCAA Tournament in their first season at the helm of the MSU program.
Michigan State enters the NCAA Tournament with a 22-8 record, winning five of its last six and nine of its last 12 overall, falling in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals to Nebraska. The Spartans ended the regular season with 12-6 mark in Big Ten games, winning five in a row entering the postseason, and were the No. 4 seed in the B1G Tournament. This is the first time since the 2015-16 season that MSU has exceeded the 10-win mark in league play, finishing 13-5 that season. This is also the first time that Michigan State has surpassed 21 wins since the 2015-16 season. That year, the Spartans went 25-9, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
MSU is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021, which was played entirely in San Antonio due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overall, the Spartans are making their 19th overall trip to the "Big Dance." MSU has made it to the NCAA Tournament in 16 of the last 21 completed seasons.
SPARTANS VS THE FIELD OF 68
MSU has played seven teams that reached the NCAA Tournament, six of which are from the Big Ten. The Spartans are 3-7 against those teams. MSU has a pair of wins No. 9-seeded Michigan. The Spartans also earned a victory against No. 10-seeded Maryland. Michigan State was 0-1 against No. 1-seeeded Iowa, No. 4-seeded Indiana and No. 7-seeded Creighton. MSU fell twice to No. 2-seeded Ohio State and No. 6-seeded Nebraska.
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS
The Tar Heels earned an at-large bid with a 19-12 overall record after going 11-7 in the ACC, and were the No. 8 seed in the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina falling to No. 9 seed Miami, 60-59 in the quarterfinals.
The Tar Heels (19-12) are 50-29 all-time in NCAA play, with a national championship in 1994 and Final Fours in 1994, 2006 and 2007.
UNC is one of eight programs with 30 or more NCAA Tournament appearances.
Both of the Tar Heels' leading scorers Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby earned All-ACC honors. Kelly was named to the first-team for the third-straight season. Ustby was named to the second team and also earned her overall third All-ACC honor, earning first-team accolades as a junior and second team as a sophomore. Kelly leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.7 ppg. Utsby is second in scoring with 12.4 points and leads the team in rebounds with 9.3 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE TAR HEELS
The Spartans and Tar Heels will be meeting on the hardwood for the first time since the 2014 NCAA Tournament Second Round when No. 4-seeded UNC beat fifth-seeded MSU, 63-52 in Chapel Hill. Overall, UNC leads the all-time series, 4-1, including 1-0 in neutral court meetings, squaring off in the 1999-2000 season in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina when No. 10/11-ranked North Carolina posted an 82-65 win.
Friday will mark the third NCAA Tournament match-up between the Spartans and Tar Heels, also meeting in 1997, when the No. 8 seeded Spartans lost to the No. 1 seeded Tar Heels, 81-71 in OT.
NORTH CAROLINA VS. THE FIELD OF 68
North Carolina has played 11 teams the reached the field of 68. The Tar Heels are 5-8 against those teams. UNC has wins against Oklahoma, Syracuse, Nortre Dame, Louisville, N.C. State and Duke. The Tar Heels lost to No. 1-seeded South Carolina and No. 3-seeded UConn. UNC went 0-2 against No. 4-seeded Virginia Tech.
COMMON OPPONENTS
The Spartans and Tar Heels have no common opponents this season. North Carolina did take on MSU head coach Robyn Fralick's alma mater, Davidson, on Nov. 12, coming away with a 74-70 win.
NEW TO THE DANCE
The Spartans are fairly new to the NCAA Tournament with only three players having any NCAA experience. Graduate guard/froward Tory Ozment has played in two NCAA games, while graduate guard Moira Joiner has played in one and graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault has also played in one game. All three played in MSU's last NCAA Tournament game against Iowa State in San Antonio on March 22, 2021. As the No. 10 seed, MSU fell to Iowa State, 79-75. Joiner started the game against the Cyclones, scoring five points. Off the bench, Ozment was just shy of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. Ayrault also came off the bench to score seven points with two blocks.
DID YOU KNOW?
First-year head coach Robyn Fralick is the first-ever Michigan State women's basketball head coach to lead the Spartans into the NCAA Tournament in their first season at the helm of the MSU program.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
Sophomore guard Theryn Hallock is just the second Spartan to earn Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year honors. She follows in the footsteps of Kalisha Keane who earned the award in 2009. Hallock did it by averaging 11.1 ppg compared to 2.6 ppg last season. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault was also named first-team All-Big Ten. She also had a huge increase in offensive output. Last season, she only averaged 3.6 ppg during the 2022-23 season, and it now leading the team with 15.4 ppg.
B1G TIME BIG TEN
The Big Ten tied a record with seven teams earning bids in the NCAA Tournament. The seven selections ties the conference record for most teams selected in one season (also set in 2012, 2015, 2021 and 2023). It is the 19th time in the past 23 years and 26th time in Big Ten history that at least six current conference members have been chosen to compete in the NCAA Tournament. Joining MSU is No. 1 seed Iowa, No. 2 seed Ohio State, No. 4 seed Indiana, No. 6 Nebraska, No. 9 Michigan and No. 10 Maryland.
BY THE NUMBERS VS. NEBRASKA | B1G TOURNAMENT
• With 25 points against Nebraska on March 8, Julia Ayrault surpassed her total of points scored in her previous three Big Ten Tournament games. Last season, she scored 12 points in two games.
• With three blocks, Julia Ayrault also moved into fourth place on the school's all-time list (135).
• Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault has now scored in double figures for 12-straight games, including scoring 25 against Nebraska on March 8. The Spartans are 20-5 when she scores in double figures this season. For her career, she has 39 double-digit scoring games with MSU standing 29-10 in those games. She leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.4 ppg after only averaging 3.6 ppg last season.
SPARTAN QUARTET EARN POSTSEASON HONORS
Four Michigan State women's basketball players honored with postseason accolades.
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault was named to the first team by both the coaches and the media. Graduate guard Moira Joiner captured second-team honors by both the coaches and the media, while junior guard DeeDee Hagemann was named second team by the coaches and honorable mention by the media. Sophomore guard Theryn Hallock was also named the Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year.
Hallock is only the second Spartan to earn Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year honors. All-American Kalisha Keane was voted Sixth Player of the Year during the 2009-10 season. The Grand Rapids native is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 11.1 ppg.
Ayrault, a native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, earned her first All-Big Ten honor during her breakout season. She leads the team and is 11th in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game. She also ninth in the B1G in rebounding, averaging 7.2 rpg. She stands fifth in field goal percentage (.515) and second in blocks (2.1 bpg).
Hagemann, who hails from Detroit, Michigan, earned her third-straight all-Big Ten honor. This is the first time that she has captured second-team honors, as she was named to the honorable mention squad the last two years. She is averaging 12.4 ppg this season. She leads the team with a 148 assists. Her 5.1 assists per game average is seventh in the conference. Hagemann also stands first in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2.90).
Joiner, a guard from Saginaw, Michigan captured her first All-Big Ten honor when she was named to the second team. She is second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.7 ppg which is good for 12th in the league. The guard is also tied for first in the B1G in 3-point shooting percentage (.432). Joiner was also named Michigan State's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.
SETTING NEW STANDARDS
The Spartans improve to 22-8 overall and 12-6 in Big Ten games, winning five straight. This is the first time since the 2015-16 season that MSU has exceeded the 10-win mark in league play, finishing 13-5 that season. This is the first time that Michigan State has reach 21 wins since the 2018-19 season. That year, the Spartans went 21-12, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
GETTING BETTER EVERY YEAR
Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann has increased her assists total every season. As a freshman, she captured 144 assists, topping that as a sophomore with 146, which stands eight in the MSU single-season records. Hagemann now has 148 assists this season, which is tied for seventh with Deb Traxinger (1978-79) for seventh.
RE-WRITING HISTORY
The Spartans broke the single-season school record for 3-pointers in a season against the Scarlet Knights on Feb. 24. MSU came into the game needing 11 to break the record and hit 14 in the game. The Spartans have now recorded 276 3-pointers this season, breaking the record set during the 2016-17 season. Graduate guard Moira Joiner leads the team with 76 3-pointers. The single-season record for individual treys was 122 by All-American Tori Jankoska during the 2016-17 season.
GETTING IN THE LINEUP
Michigan State's starting five for against Nebraska on March 8 made up of junior guard DeeDee Hagemann, sophomore guard Abbey Kimball junior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate, graduate guard Moira Joiner and graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault was MSU's 21st-consecutive game with those five Spartans on the court for tip-off. Michigan State has started a total of 27 games this season with that starting five, improving to 19-8 on the season. The only other two Spartans to start this season are sophomore guard Theryn Hallock and junior forward Isaline Alexander.
AMONG THE BEST IN THE LAND
The Spartans are ninth in the nation field goal percentage, shooting 48.4 percent from the field. Michigan State is also ninth in the country in assists per game, averaging 19.0 apg. They are second in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.62). The Spartans high-flying offense currently stands sixth in the nation in scoring offense, as well (83.7 ppg). MSU is currently ninth in the nation in 3-pointers made (9.2/game).
Individually, Julia Ayrault is 23rd in the nation in blocks with 64 and 22nd in blocks per game (2.1 bpg). DeeDee Hagemann is 10th in the country assist/turnover ratio (2.79).
BREAKING RECORDS
Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann is looking to break her own single-season school record for assist-to-turnover ration. Through 30 games this season, she has a 2.79 assist-to-turnover ration, which is ahead of the current single-season record she set last season of 2.67.
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio (min. 2.0 APG)
1. DeeDee Hagemann 2.79 2023-24
1. DeeDee Hagemann 2.67 2022-23
2. Christine Powers 2.40 1994-95
3. Kristin Haynie 2.30 2004-05
4. Taryn McCutcheon 2.28 2016-17
5. Taryn McCutcheon 2.11 2017-18
6. Tamika Matlock 2.08 1996-97
7. Donita Johnson 1.98 1999-00
8. Nia Clouden 1.95 2020-21
9. Kiana Johnson 1.93 2012-13
10 Tamika Matlock 1.91 1995-96
* turnovers were first kept in 1984-85 season
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK... RECORD BOOK
Julia Ayrault's three blocks against Nebraska on March 8 gives her 64 rejections this season, which are the most by a Spartan in a single-season since 2009-10 when Allyssa DeHaan had 101 rejections. With the 64 blocks, Ayrault remains in the No. 5 spot on MSU's single-season blocks list, passing No. 6 with Kristen Rasmussen (1999-2000), who was at the No. 5 spot with 57 in the 1998-98 season.
Blocked Shots
1. Allyssa DeHaan 150 2007-08
2. Allyssa DeHaan 145 2006-07
3. Allyssa DeHaan 107 2008-09
4. Allyssa DeHaan 101 2009-10
5. Julia Ayrault 64 2023-24
6. Kristen Rasmussen 57 1998-99
7. Kristen Rasmussen 53 1999-00
8. Kelli Roehrig 50 2004-05
9. Kristen Rasmussen 45 1997-98
10. Lykendra Johnson 44 2010-11
WHAT A DIFFERENCE YEAR MAKES
The Spartans have made many improvements from the 2022-23 team that finished 16-14. With 2,511 points this season, MSU is just 117 points from tying the school for points in a season with 2,628 during the 2004-05 season. Last season, MSU averaged 78.2 ppg, while this season the Spartans are scoring 83.7 ppg. MSU has drained 276 3-pointers this season, while scoring 241 last season. The Spartans are shooting 48.4 percent from the field, while they shot 42.6 percent last year.
OH WHAT A NIGHT
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault had the hot hand against No. 14/13 Indiana on Feb. 8. Ayrault netted a B1G season-high 25 points topping her previous B1G season-high of 20 points vs. Maryland (1/9/24). She netted a career-high five 3-pointers, bettering her previous top mark of four triples vs. Coastal Carolina (12/21/23). The five triples was her third game in the last four with multiple triples as part of the eighth game this season with more than one 3-pointer. Ayrault ended the game 9-for-11 from the field.
NET RANKING
Through March 4, Michigan State holds a NET ranking of No. 22, which is fourth-best in the Big Ten. Iowa is first at No. 5, followed by Ohio State at No. 9 and Indiana at No. 14.
MOVIN' ON UP
Several Spartans are moving up the MSU record books. Graduate guard Moira Joiner now has 203 made 3-pointers. She is one of only five Spartans to reach 200 3-pointers. Even though she is just a junior, guard DeeDee Hagemann already has 438 career assists. Hagemann dished out a six assists against Nebraska on March 8. She is just the ninth player in MSU program history to reach the 400-career assists plateau, standing alone for No. 7 in the MSU career record books. Deb Traxinger is No. 6 with 443 (1978-82) career assists.
JULIA AYRAULT... SCORING MACHINE
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault has now scored in double figures for 12-straight games, including scoring 25 against Nebraska on March 8 at the Big Ten Tournament. She is second on the team in double-figure games with 25 just behind Moira Joiner's 26. The Spartans are 20-5 when she scores in double figures this season. For her career, she has 39 double-digit scoring games with MSU standing 29-10 in those games. She leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.4 ppg after only averaging 3.6 ppg last season.
With the 463 points, graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault has now passed the combined sum of her previous three seasons in a Spartan uniform, as she had a combined 434 points in the 2019-23 seasons.
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT HER...JOINER
Graduate guard Moira Joiner topped the 1,000 career point mark with a 3-pointer at the 6:39 mark for her fifth point of the game against Purdue on Jan. 24. She becomes the 30th Spartan women's basketball player to join the MSU 1,000-Point Club and the first since All-American Nia Clouden hit her 1,000th point on Jan. 7, 2021 vs. Maryland. Clouden finished her career in 2022 with 1,882 points. Joiner now has scored 1,160 career points which puts her 22nd all-time in the MSU record books.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
This season, Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in scoring margin (+16.4) and second in assists (19.0 apg). The Spartans are also second in the league in 3-point field goals made, averaging 9.20 per game. MSU is second in turnover margin (+6.50) and first in assist/turnover ratio (1.62).
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault leads the Spartans in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game, which is 11th in the conference, while graduate guard Moira Joiner is 12th with 14.7 ppg. Ayrault is also eighth in rebounding with 7.2 rpg and fifth in field goal percentage (.515). Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann is seventh in the league in assists, averaging 5.1 apg and first in assist/turnover ratio (2.79). Ayrault is also second in the conference in blocks, averaging 2.1 bpg, behind Wisconsin's Serah Williams. Joiner stands tied for first in the league in 3-points field goal percentage (.432) with Indiana's Sara Scalia.
COMING NEXT YEAR
MSU head coach Robyn Fralick announced the signing of four National Letters of Intent, including Sinai Douglas, Helen Holley, Juliann Woodard (North Vernon, Indiana/Jennings County High School) and Inés Sotelo.
Douglas is a 5-4 guard, who is a native of Toledo, Ohio. She attends Toledo Start High School and is coached by Dane Franklin. Douglas is currently ranked No. 87 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.
Holley is a 6-1 forward, who is a native of Cleveland Ohio, plays for head coach Kevin Byrne at the Gilmour Academy. As a junior, she averaged 14.7 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.
Woodard is a 6-0 forward, who is a native of North Vernon, Indiana, plays for head coach Kristi Sigler at Jennings County High School. Woodard is currently ranked No. 58 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.
Sotelo Miguez is a 6-3 forward, who is a native of Ourense, Spain. She has extensive international experience, including playing with the U18 Spanish National Team last summer in Konya, Turkey at the Eurobasket Tournament.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick has announced guard/forward Julia Ayrault and guard Moira Joiner as team captains, as voted on by the players on the 2023-24 women's basketball team. The duo are the first captains that Michigan State has had since the 2019-20 season, when Victoria Gaines and Taryn McCutcheon were tabbed team leaders.
LAST TIME OUT
Despite a valiant fourth-quarter effort, the No. 4-seeded Michigan State women's basketball team fell to No. 5-seeded Nebraska, 73-61, at the TIAA Big Ten Tournament on March 8 at the Target Center.
For just the second time this season, Michigan State had only one player in double figures. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault led the all scorers with 25 points, while also adding five rebounds and three blocks. Junior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate, senior guard Moira Joiner and sophomore guard Theryn Hallock all added eight points.
Ayrault's 25 points ties for 11th for most points by a Spartan in the Big Ten Tournament. Maxann Reese also scored 25 points against Penn State on Feb. 27, 1999.
The Huskers were led by 22 points and 12 rebounds by Alexis Markowski. igan State women's basketball completed the regular season with a 78-52 victory over Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon in the Kohl Center.
• The Spartans come to Columbia with a 22-8 overall record after losing in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on March 8. The Tar Heels are 19-12 heading into the first round also falling in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.
• Overall, the Spartans are making their 19th overall trip to the "Big Dance." MSU has made it to the NCAA Tournament in 16 of the last 21 completed seasons. MSU is 19-18 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• Michigan State is making its second trip to Columbia, S.C. for the NCAA Tournament, also playing there in the 2017 First Round, when the Spartans were also the No. 9 seed, falling to No. 8 seed Arizona State, 73-61.
• The Spartans are fairly new to the NCAA Tournament with only three players having any NCAA experience. Graduate Tory Ozment has played in two NCAA games, while graduate Moira Joiner and graduate Julia Ayrault have both played in one game.
• Theryn Hallock is only the second Spartan to earn Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year honors. All-American Kalisha Keane was voted Sixth Player of the Year during the 2009-10 season.
SPARTANS IN THE BIG DANCE
First-year head coach Robyn Fralick is the first-ever Michigan State women's basketball head coach to lead the Spartans into the NCAA Tournament in their first season at the helm of the MSU program.
Michigan State enters the NCAA Tournament with a 22-8 record, winning five of its last six and nine of its last 12 overall, falling in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals to Nebraska. The Spartans ended the regular season with 12-6 mark in Big Ten games, winning five in a row entering the postseason, and were the No. 4 seed in the B1G Tournament. This is the first time since the 2015-16 season that MSU has exceeded the 10-win mark in league play, finishing 13-5 that season. This is also the first time that Michigan State has surpassed 21 wins since the 2015-16 season. That year, the Spartans went 25-9, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
MSU is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021, which was played entirely in San Antonio due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overall, the Spartans are making their 19th overall trip to the "Big Dance." MSU has made it to the NCAA Tournament in 16 of the last 21 completed seasons.
SPARTANS VS THE FIELD OF 68
MSU has played seven teams that reached the NCAA Tournament, six of which are from the Big Ten. The Spartans are 3-7 against those teams. MSU has a pair of wins No. 9-seeded Michigan. The Spartans also earned a victory against No. 10-seeded Maryland. Michigan State was 0-1 against No. 1-seeeded Iowa, No. 4-seeded Indiana and No. 7-seeded Creighton. MSU fell twice to No. 2-seeded Ohio State and No. 6-seeded Nebraska.
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS
The Tar Heels earned an at-large bid with a 19-12 overall record after going 11-7 in the ACC, and were the No. 8 seed in the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina falling to No. 9 seed Miami, 60-59 in the quarterfinals.
The Tar Heels (19-12) are 50-29 all-time in NCAA play, with a national championship in 1994 and Final Fours in 1994, 2006 and 2007.
UNC is one of eight programs with 30 or more NCAA Tournament appearances.
Both of the Tar Heels' leading scorers Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby earned All-ACC honors. Kelly was named to the first-team for the third-straight season. Ustby was named to the second team and also earned her overall third All-ACC honor, earning first-team accolades as a junior and second team as a sophomore. Kelly leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.7 ppg. Utsby is second in scoring with 12.4 points and leads the team in rebounds with 9.3 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE TAR HEELS
The Spartans and Tar Heels will be meeting on the hardwood for the first time since the 2014 NCAA Tournament Second Round when No. 4-seeded UNC beat fifth-seeded MSU, 63-52 in Chapel Hill. Overall, UNC leads the all-time series, 4-1, including 1-0 in neutral court meetings, squaring off in the 1999-2000 season in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina when No. 10/11-ranked North Carolina posted an 82-65 win.
Friday will mark the third NCAA Tournament match-up between the Spartans and Tar Heels, also meeting in 1997, when the No. 8 seeded Spartans lost to the No. 1 seeded Tar Heels, 81-71 in OT.
NORTH CAROLINA VS. THE FIELD OF 68
North Carolina has played 11 teams the reached the field of 68. The Tar Heels are 5-8 against those teams. UNC has wins against Oklahoma, Syracuse, Nortre Dame, Louisville, N.C. State and Duke. The Tar Heels lost to No. 1-seeded South Carolina and No. 3-seeded UConn. UNC went 0-2 against No. 4-seeded Virginia Tech.
COMMON OPPONENTS
The Spartans and Tar Heels have no common opponents this season. North Carolina did take on MSU head coach Robyn Fralick's alma mater, Davidson, on Nov. 12, coming away with a 74-70 win.
NEW TO THE DANCE
The Spartans are fairly new to the NCAA Tournament with only three players having any NCAA experience. Graduate guard/froward Tory Ozment has played in two NCAA games, while graduate guard Moira Joiner has played in one and graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault has also played in one game. All three played in MSU's last NCAA Tournament game against Iowa State in San Antonio on March 22, 2021. As the No. 10 seed, MSU fell to Iowa State, 79-75. Joiner started the game against the Cyclones, scoring five points. Off the bench, Ozment was just shy of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. Ayrault also came off the bench to score seven points with two blocks.
DID YOU KNOW?
First-year head coach Robyn Fralick is the first-ever Michigan State women's basketball head coach to lead the Spartans into the NCAA Tournament in their first season at the helm of the MSU program.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
Sophomore guard Theryn Hallock is just the second Spartan to earn Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year honors. She follows in the footsteps of Kalisha Keane who earned the award in 2009. Hallock did it by averaging 11.1 ppg compared to 2.6 ppg last season. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault was also named first-team All-Big Ten. She also had a huge increase in offensive output. Last season, she only averaged 3.6 ppg during the 2022-23 season, and it now leading the team with 15.4 ppg.
B1G TIME BIG TEN
The Big Ten tied a record with seven teams earning bids in the NCAA Tournament. The seven selections ties the conference record for most teams selected in one season (also set in 2012, 2015, 2021 and 2023). It is the 19th time in the past 23 years and 26th time in Big Ten history that at least six current conference members have been chosen to compete in the NCAA Tournament. Joining MSU is No. 1 seed Iowa, No. 2 seed Ohio State, No. 4 seed Indiana, No. 6 Nebraska, No. 9 Michigan and No. 10 Maryland.
BY THE NUMBERS VS. NEBRASKA | B1G TOURNAMENT
• With 25 points against Nebraska on March 8, Julia Ayrault surpassed her total of points scored in her previous three Big Ten Tournament games. Last season, she scored 12 points in two games.
• With three blocks, Julia Ayrault also moved into fourth place on the school's all-time list (135).
• Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault has now scored in double figures for 12-straight games, including scoring 25 against Nebraska on March 8. The Spartans are 20-5 when she scores in double figures this season. For her career, she has 39 double-digit scoring games with MSU standing 29-10 in those games. She leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.4 ppg after only averaging 3.6 ppg last season.
SPARTAN QUARTET EARN POSTSEASON HONORS
Four Michigan State women's basketball players honored with postseason accolades.
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault was named to the first team by both the coaches and the media. Graduate guard Moira Joiner captured second-team honors by both the coaches and the media, while junior guard DeeDee Hagemann was named second team by the coaches and honorable mention by the media. Sophomore guard Theryn Hallock was also named the Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year.
Hallock is only the second Spartan to earn Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year honors. All-American Kalisha Keane was voted Sixth Player of the Year during the 2009-10 season. The Grand Rapids native is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 11.1 ppg.
Ayrault, a native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, earned her first All-Big Ten honor during her breakout season. She leads the team and is 11th in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game. She also ninth in the B1G in rebounding, averaging 7.2 rpg. She stands fifth in field goal percentage (.515) and second in blocks (2.1 bpg).
Hagemann, who hails from Detroit, Michigan, earned her third-straight all-Big Ten honor. This is the first time that she has captured second-team honors, as she was named to the honorable mention squad the last two years. She is averaging 12.4 ppg this season. She leads the team with a 148 assists. Her 5.1 assists per game average is seventh in the conference. Hagemann also stands first in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2.90).
Joiner, a guard from Saginaw, Michigan captured her first All-Big Ten honor when she was named to the second team. She is second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.7 ppg which is good for 12th in the league. The guard is also tied for first in the B1G in 3-point shooting percentage (.432). Joiner was also named Michigan State's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.
SETTING NEW STANDARDS
The Spartans improve to 22-8 overall and 12-6 in Big Ten games, winning five straight. This is the first time since the 2015-16 season that MSU has exceeded the 10-win mark in league play, finishing 13-5 that season. This is the first time that Michigan State has reach 21 wins since the 2018-19 season. That year, the Spartans went 21-12, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
GETTING BETTER EVERY YEAR
Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann has increased her assists total every season. As a freshman, she captured 144 assists, topping that as a sophomore with 146, which stands eight in the MSU single-season records. Hagemann now has 148 assists this season, which is tied for seventh with Deb Traxinger (1978-79) for seventh.
RE-WRITING HISTORY
The Spartans broke the single-season school record for 3-pointers in a season against the Scarlet Knights on Feb. 24. MSU came into the game needing 11 to break the record and hit 14 in the game. The Spartans have now recorded 276 3-pointers this season, breaking the record set during the 2016-17 season. Graduate guard Moira Joiner leads the team with 76 3-pointers. The single-season record for individual treys was 122 by All-American Tori Jankoska during the 2016-17 season.
GETTING IN THE LINEUP
Michigan State's starting five for against Nebraska on March 8 made up of junior guard DeeDee Hagemann, sophomore guard Abbey Kimball junior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate, graduate guard Moira Joiner and graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault was MSU's 21st-consecutive game with those five Spartans on the court for tip-off. Michigan State has started a total of 27 games this season with that starting five, improving to 19-8 on the season. The only other two Spartans to start this season are sophomore guard Theryn Hallock and junior forward Isaline Alexander.
AMONG THE BEST IN THE LAND
The Spartans are ninth in the nation field goal percentage, shooting 48.4 percent from the field. Michigan State is also ninth in the country in assists per game, averaging 19.0 apg. They are second in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.62). The Spartans high-flying offense currently stands sixth in the nation in scoring offense, as well (83.7 ppg). MSU is currently ninth in the nation in 3-pointers made (9.2/game).
Individually, Julia Ayrault is 23rd in the nation in blocks with 64 and 22nd in blocks per game (2.1 bpg). DeeDee Hagemann is 10th in the country assist/turnover ratio (2.79).
BREAKING RECORDS
Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann is looking to break her own single-season school record for assist-to-turnover ration. Through 30 games this season, she has a 2.79 assist-to-turnover ration, which is ahead of the current single-season record she set last season of 2.67.
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio (min. 2.0 APG)
1. DeeDee Hagemann 2.79 2023-24
1. DeeDee Hagemann 2.67 2022-23
2. Christine Powers 2.40 1994-95
3. Kristin Haynie 2.30 2004-05
4. Taryn McCutcheon 2.28 2016-17
5. Taryn McCutcheon 2.11 2017-18
6. Tamika Matlock 2.08 1996-97
7. Donita Johnson 1.98 1999-00
8. Nia Clouden 1.95 2020-21
9. Kiana Johnson 1.93 2012-13
10 Tamika Matlock 1.91 1995-96
* turnovers were first kept in 1984-85 season
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK... RECORD BOOK
Julia Ayrault's three blocks against Nebraska on March 8 gives her 64 rejections this season, which are the most by a Spartan in a single-season since 2009-10 when Allyssa DeHaan had 101 rejections. With the 64 blocks, Ayrault remains in the No. 5 spot on MSU's single-season blocks list, passing No. 6 with Kristen Rasmussen (1999-2000), who was at the No. 5 spot with 57 in the 1998-98 season.
Blocked Shots
1. Allyssa DeHaan 150 2007-08
2. Allyssa DeHaan 145 2006-07
3. Allyssa DeHaan 107 2008-09
4. Allyssa DeHaan 101 2009-10
5. Julia Ayrault 64 2023-24
6. Kristen Rasmussen 57 1998-99
7. Kristen Rasmussen 53 1999-00
8. Kelli Roehrig 50 2004-05
9. Kristen Rasmussen 45 1997-98
10. Lykendra Johnson 44 2010-11
WHAT A DIFFERENCE YEAR MAKES
The Spartans have made many improvements from the 2022-23 team that finished 16-14. With 2,511 points this season, MSU is just 117 points from tying the school for points in a season with 2,628 during the 2004-05 season. Last season, MSU averaged 78.2 ppg, while this season the Spartans are scoring 83.7 ppg. MSU has drained 276 3-pointers this season, while scoring 241 last season. The Spartans are shooting 48.4 percent from the field, while they shot 42.6 percent last year.
OH WHAT A NIGHT
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault had the hot hand against No. 14/13 Indiana on Feb. 8. Ayrault netted a B1G season-high 25 points topping her previous B1G season-high of 20 points vs. Maryland (1/9/24). She netted a career-high five 3-pointers, bettering her previous top mark of four triples vs. Coastal Carolina (12/21/23). The five triples was her third game in the last four with multiple triples as part of the eighth game this season with more than one 3-pointer. Ayrault ended the game 9-for-11 from the field.
NET RANKING
Through March 4, Michigan State holds a NET ranking of No. 22, which is fourth-best in the Big Ten. Iowa is first at No. 5, followed by Ohio State at No. 9 and Indiana at No. 14.
MOVIN' ON UP
Several Spartans are moving up the MSU record books. Graduate guard Moira Joiner now has 203 made 3-pointers. She is one of only five Spartans to reach 200 3-pointers. Even though she is just a junior, guard DeeDee Hagemann already has 438 career assists. Hagemann dished out a six assists against Nebraska on March 8. She is just the ninth player in MSU program history to reach the 400-career assists plateau, standing alone for No. 7 in the MSU career record books. Deb Traxinger is No. 6 with 443 (1978-82) career assists.
JULIA AYRAULT... SCORING MACHINE
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault has now scored in double figures for 12-straight games, including scoring 25 against Nebraska on March 8 at the Big Ten Tournament. She is second on the team in double-figure games with 25 just behind Moira Joiner's 26. The Spartans are 20-5 when she scores in double figures this season. For her career, she has 39 double-digit scoring games with MSU standing 29-10 in those games. She leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.4 ppg after only averaging 3.6 ppg last season.
With the 463 points, graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault has now passed the combined sum of her previous three seasons in a Spartan uniform, as she had a combined 434 points in the 2019-23 seasons.
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT HER...JOINER
Graduate guard Moira Joiner topped the 1,000 career point mark with a 3-pointer at the 6:39 mark for her fifth point of the game against Purdue on Jan. 24. She becomes the 30th Spartan women's basketball player to join the MSU 1,000-Point Club and the first since All-American Nia Clouden hit her 1,000th point on Jan. 7, 2021 vs. Maryland. Clouden finished her career in 2022 with 1,882 points. Joiner now has scored 1,160 career points which puts her 22nd all-time in the MSU record books.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
This season, Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in scoring margin (+16.4) and second in assists (19.0 apg). The Spartans are also second in the league in 3-point field goals made, averaging 9.20 per game. MSU is second in turnover margin (+6.50) and first in assist/turnover ratio (1.62).
Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault leads the Spartans in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game, which is 11th in the conference, while graduate guard Moira Joiner is 12th with 14.7 ppg. Ayrault is also eighth in rebounding with 7.2 rpg and fifth in field goal percentage (.515). Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann is seventh in the league in assists, averaging 5.1 apg and first in assist/turnover ratio (2.79). Ayrault is also second in the conference in blocks, averaging 2.1 bpg, behind Wisconsin's Serah Williams. Joiner stands tied for first in the league in 3-points field goal percentage (.432) with Indiana's Sara Scalia.
COMING NEXT YEAR
MSU head coach Robyn Fralick announced the signing of four National Letters of Intent, including Sinai Douglas, Helen Holley, Juliann Woodard (North Vernon, Indiana/Jennings County High School) and Inés Sotelo.
Douglas is a 5-4 guard, who is a native of Toledo, Ohio. She attends Toledo Start High School and is coached by Dane Franklin. Douglas is currently ranked No. 87 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.
Holley is a 6-1 forward, who is a native of Cleveland Ohio, plays for head coach Kevin Byrne at the Gilmour Academy. As a junior, she averaged 14.7 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.
Woodard is a 6-0 forward, who is a native of North Vernon, Indiana, plays for head coach Kristi Sigler at Jennings County High School. Woodard is currently ranked No. 58 in the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.
Sotelo Miguez is a 6-3 forward, who is a native of Ourense, Spain. She has extensive international experience, including playing with the U18 Spanish National Team last summer in Konya, Turkey at the Eurobasket Tournament.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick has announced guard/forward Julia Ayrault and guard Moira Joiner as team captains, as voted on by the players on the 2023-24 women's basketball team. The duo are the first captains that Michigan State has had since the 2019-20 season, when Victoria Gaines and Taryn McCutcheon were tabbed team leaders.
LAST TIME OUT
Despite a valiant fourth-quarter effort, the No. 4-seeded Michigan State women's basketball team fell to No. 5-seeded Nebraska, 73-61, at the TIAA Big Ten Tournament on March 8 at the Target Center.
For just the second time this season, Michigan State had only one player in double figures. Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault led the all scorers with 25 points, while also adding five rebounds and three blocks. Junior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate, senior guard Moira Joiner and sophomore guard Theryn Hallock all added eight points.
Ayrault's 25 points ties for 11th for most points by a Spartan in the Big Ten Tournament. Maxann Reese also scored 25 points against Penn State on Feb. 27, 1999.
The Huskers were led by 22 points and 12 rebounds by Alexis Markowski. igan State women's basketball completed the regular season with a 78-52 victory over Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon in the Kohl Center.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballRobyn Fralick | Women's Basketball Selection Show Press Conference | March 16, 2025
Sunday, March 16
Robyn Fralick | Women's Basketball Press Conference | Mar. 04 2025
Tuesday, March 04
Michigan State Women's Basketball vs Minnosta | Cinematic Highlight
Sunday, March 02
Coach Fralick Post Game Comments | MINN | Mar. 1 2025
Saturday, March 01