For the first time in her basketball career, Ayrault shared the court with her younger sister, Wayne State sophomore guard Annabel Ayrault. Their father, Andy Ayrault, is an assistant coach for Wayne State. 

The opportunity to grace the floor with her sister is an experience Julia Ayrault has been waiting for.

"It's definitely up there for me," Ayrault said. "I think growing up and kind of wishing that me and my sister were just a tiny bit closer at age, just because I think it would have been really fun to play with her for some period of time. So, I think it sits up there with really cool moments for me. I think I'll remember it forever and I think she will as well. She's definitely my best friend and just getting the opportunity to see her and spend some time with her today was really cool."

The exhibition game between the two teams was announced over the summer. MSU typically plays against a Division II team before the regular season and both teams had openings in their schedules to make the family reunion happen.

After the game, MSU head coach Robyn Fralick expressed how Ayrault and her family deserved this moment.

"A really cool night for Julia and her family," Fralick said. "Very rarely in basketball do you get a night where you get to play against your sister and your dad. So I was very happy that this was able to come together. Very grateful for their family."

When the final buzzer went off, the Ayrault family embraced on the court. 

"It was awesome," Ayrault said. "Just to see them and be here at the Breslin Center with them here, getting the chance to just be around family. And we had some family from out of town that came in for the game. So it was just really special for our family."

One of two captains for MSU this season, Ayrault ended the game with eight points, eight assists and four rebounds. Afterward, she talked about the importance of communication.

"I think coach Fralick pushing myself and (graduate transfer guard Nyla Hampton), just with communication and extending our leadership," Ayrault said. "So just building off of last year and focusing on what can we do better each day, I think that's been our main focus. It’s like baby steps to improving our leadership skills and accountability piece, and making sure we're doing our part and leading ourselves before we can lead anyone else."

MSU women’s basketball will take on Oakland for its first regular season game at Breslin Center on Nov. 5. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.