Spartan junior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate (11) on defense during Michigan State's game against Detroit Mercy at the Breslin Student Events Center on Nov. 16, 2023. Tate's Spartans were victorious, defeating the Detroit Mercy Titans 105-44.
March Madness has officially begun, and the Michigan State University women's basketball team is dancing into the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
In a physical battle against 10-seeded Harvard, Michigan State used a dominant second half, fueled by shutdown defense, to secure a 64-50 victory. Junior forward Grace VanSlooten led the way with 17 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. Senior forward Jocelyn Tate and junior guard Theryn Hallock also reached double-digit scoring.
Throughout the game, the Spartans battled with Harvard, never fully taking control until the second half. Senior guard Harmoni Turner was everything the Crimson could have asked for, scoring a game-high 24 points to go with six rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Turner was a key reason Harvard kept the game close.
Stifling defense
The name of the game for MSU was defense. The Spartans' game plan was clear from the start: use the strengths that brought them here to their advantage. This defense has been their foundation all season.
The defense was highlighted by the full-court trap that head coach Robyn Fralick has used all season. Right from the tip, several Spartans guarded the inbound pass, making it difficult for Harvard to cross half court. The stifling defense helped the Spartans jump to an early 11-0 lead.
Harvard played a streaky game, using brief spurts of momentum to stay in the game. The Crimson had several short scoring runs, but the Spartans' defense quickly shut them down, preventing any fastbreak opportunities.
Jocelyn Tate found herself as one of the main pieces in this defense effort, with four steals in the game. As has been her strong suit all season, Tate was everywhere for the Spartans on the other end of the floor, using active hands to come up with a number of stripped balls to create an easy fastbreak score.
Offensive struggles
The strong defense may have been the Spartans' saving grace, as the offense struggled against the Crimson.
The Spartans shot 19-of-45 from the field, forcing MSU to rely on sporadic scoring spurts. The struggles were evident in each of the first three quarters, with MSU enduring five-minute-plus scoring droughts in each.
Much of the struggle stemmed from uncharacteristic turnovers. MSU committed a game-high 23 turnovers, which Harvard capitalized on, scoring 23 points off them. Four Spartans had three or more turnovers, with graduate forward Julia Ayrault totaling an uncharacteristic seven.
A Spartan safety-net
In the midst of their offensive struggles, MSU found a reliable option in Grace VanSlooten. As she has all season, VanSlooten dominated inside, using her size for easy layups and a few and-ones to provide the Spartans with a momentum boost.
When the Spartans found themselves in a drought, VanSlooten kept them in the game, both offensively and defensively. With three blocks, she shut down several Crimson runs. The paint was controlled by the All-Big Ten Second Team member throughout the game.
With 28 of the Spartans’ 64 points, much of the offense was generated inside. VanSlooten was the catalyst of this strategy, as she has been for most of the season.
The first-round win is Michigan State's first since 2019 and the first under head coach Robyn Fralick, following a loss to North Carolina last season. The Spartans will face second-seeded NC State in the second round, with game time to be determined.
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