By Brian Murphy, WRAL

Michigan State Spartans	49
North Carolina State Wolfpack	83
Final

Raleigh, N.C. — NC State is headed back to the Sweet 16.

And if the Wolfpack shoots like it did Monday afternoon, it could keep playing for a while.

No. 2 seed NC State crushed seventh-seeded Michigan State 83-49 in the second round of the women’s basketball NCAA Tournament at Reynolds Coliseum. NC State will No. 3 LSU, which defeated No. 6 seed Florida State, in Spokane, Washington on Friday.

“I love Coach Moore’s saying: You better be some McDonald’s fries — hot and ready,” guard Aziaha James said. “Just being hot and ready. Don’t matter what circumstances come to you. You just got to be ready.”

NC State made 15-of-30 3-point attempts against Michigan State, led by James (6-of-11 for 26 points) and Maison Hayes (5-of-7 for 17 points). Saniya Rivers added 17 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for NC State (28-6).

All three were playing their final game at Reynolds. With the two wins this year, NC State has won 20 consecutive home games in the NCAA Tournament. NC State improved to 18-0 at home this season.

“It’s bittersweet, but we’re not done yet,” Hayes said.

James got emotional as fans applauded her as she walked off the court.

“Wolfpack Nation has been behind my back since I came here,” she said. “Just the love that they bring. You know, they’re not just fans. They’re our family. They take care of us.”

While the Wolfpack scored at will, Michigan State (22-10) struggled to put the ball in the basket. The Spartans did not score in the final 5:06 of the first quarter and had just three points over a 10-minute stretch spanning the first and second quarters.

Grace VanSlooten had a team-high 15 points and 11 rebounds for Michigan State. It was her second double-double in as many tournament games.

Michigan State, which forces 22 turnovers per game, only created 11 against NC State.

“They have great guard play,” Michigan State coach Robyn Fralick said. “So that makes it tricky. They don’t have a primary ball handler. They have multiple. Then they shot it so well, so all of a sudden it’s really spaced out, which it’s harder to be disruptive. Then the same thing, we didn’t score, so when you don’t score, it’s hard to get your defense really set or press set or get into your spots.”

The game was decided early. NC State led 27-9 after the first quarter and never looked back. Michigan State was 4-for-18 from the field and 0-for-6 from 3-point range in the first quarter. NC State outscored Michigan State in each of the four quarters.

“We’ve got some veterans that are very talented and step up,” NC State coach Wes Moore said. “When the lights are the brightest is when they really step up and play. I just thought, again, we shot the heck out of it.”

The first quarter ended with a 12-0 Wolfpack run as Rivers scored or assisted on the final six points. In one sequence, Rivers scored off a sweet crossover, threw a no-look pass for a lay-up, blocked a shot on defense and then knocked down a pull-up jumper.

“When she’s on, we take it to another level without a doubt,” Moore said.

It is the sixth Sweet 16 appearance for the Wolfpack program since 2018 (six in seven tournaments since the 2020 event was canceled) and the third in four years. NC State reached the Final Four last season.

“The wins are awesome. Don’t get me wrong,” Moore said. “That’s what we’re here for, but when you reflect on the players that were able to accomplish that six out of seven years, Sweet 16, it’s pretty neat. Brings back a lot of good memories.”

NC State defeated No. 15 seed Vermont 75-55 in the first round. Michigan State defeated No. 10 seed Harvard 64-50 in the first round.

Source: wralsportsfan.com