Triple threat: NC State women blitz Michigan State to reach NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

By Jadyn Watson-Fisher

Updated April 15, 2025 4:31 AM

2025 NCAA Tournament

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RALEIGH

During the lead-up to Monday’s NCAA Tournament matchup, Michigan State guard Theryn Hallock made a bold statement about how N.C. State would fare against her team.

“I don’t think, like Harvard, they’re ready for our defense,” Hallock said.

N.C. State was more than willing to let its offense speak for itself.

The Wolfpack exposed the Spartans’ defense Monday, riding fire-hot 3-point shooting and lights-out performances from its three veterans as second-seeded N.C. State downed No. 7 Michigan State, 83-49, in their NCAA Tournament round of 32 matchup.

The win sends the Wolfpack to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season, and sixth time in the past seven completed seasons under head coach Wes Moore.

N.C. State’s Aziaha James reacts after knocking down a three-point basket during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 83-49 victory over Michigan State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown The News & Observer

Several players said they didn’t see Michigan State’s pregame comments and focused on the scout and playing their style of basketball.

“That didn’t go too well for them, did it?” Saniya Rivers said. “Usually, I do read comments because I do see them as motivation, but I didn’t see those. If you’re gonna speak it, you got to back it up. I don’t think they backed it up tonight.

“We didn’t say anything, and we kept it real cute. We came out on the court and just played like dawgs.”

N.C. State (28-6) knew it needed a strong start to compete with the Spartans (22-10), who entered the game ranked No. 16 in the nation for scoring offense (79 points per game). Madison Hayes said the Wolfpack couldn’t be lackadaisical, a problem it’s struggled with throughout the year.

“We have to make sure we come out and give the first punch,” Hayes said.

N.C. State’s Zoe Brooks drives past Michigan State’s Jocelyn Tate and Jaddan Simmons during the first half of the Wolfpack’s second round NCAA Tournament game on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown The News & Observer

The Wolfpack’s trio of senior guards did not leave Reynolds Coliseum quietly. In their final game in Raleigh, they led the efforts on both ends, scoring or assisting on 71 of the team’s first 76 points and recording 22 stops.

Aziaha James finished with a game-high 26 points, while Hayes added 17 points. The duo went a combined 11-18 (61.1%) from deep. As a team, the Wolfpack finished with a new season high in 3s made (15).

Rivers notched a 17-point, 11-assist double-double. It was her second consecutive double-double and ninth of the season. Rivers and freshman Lorena Awou led the squad with eight rebounds apiece.

Hayes dominated the 3-point line from the jump, going 5 of 5 from distance in the first half to set a career-high in made 3s. She notched 15 first-half points and five rebounds. James contributed 17 first-half points, including three triples of her own.

The Wolfpack’s big win was fueled by its hot start. It took a 27-9 lead at the end of the first quarter after one of its best single-quarter performances of the season and never looked back. N.C. State led from wire-to-wire, asserting its dominance on the Big Ten opponent.

Michigan State’s Julia Ayrault pressures N.C. State’s Lorena Awou during the first half of the Wolfpack’s second round NCAA Tournament game on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown The News & Observer

Its offense went 68.8% from the field and 71.4% from the perimeter, with seven assists on 11 made shots, and ended the period on a 12-0 run. The defense boasted three blocks, three steals and held the Spartans scoreless for the final five minutes. Zoe Brooks was relatively quiet on the scoring front but poked the ball away on Michigan State’s final possession to prevent the Spartans from getting a shot off.

The Wolfpack extended its lead to as many as 26 points late in the second quarter. It went to the locker room with a season-high 24-point lead. N.C. State’s 10 first-half 3s set a program record for triples in an NCAA Tournament game and a season best.

N.C. State continued to pour it on in the second half, collapsing the Michigan State defense and disrupting its offense.

“Nobody wants to lose at home. Michigan State is a great team in their own right and, obviously, our defense was really, really great today,” Hayes said “We started from start to finish, and that’s what we wanted.”

The Spartans’ defining moment came three minutes into the third quarter when Hallock, sitting with her legs straight out, pounded the floor out of frustration after being called for an offensive foul. Hallock finished with four points and went 1 of 8 from the field.

MSU’s Nyla Hampton spoke Sunday about the Wolfpack’s lack of ball movement. She said N.C. State’s guards were efficient, but did not record many assists. Monday, the Pack finished with 18 assists on 31 made shots, going 50% from the field overall, and 50% from deep.

The defense forced 16 turnovers, blocked seven shots and recorded seven steals in one of its most effective efforts this season. It held MSU under 50 points for the first time this season — it was N.C. State’s fifth sub-50 game this year — and handed the Spartans their largest margin of defeat since Nov. 24, 2022.

N.C. State’s Aziaha James blocks a shot by Michigan State’s Theryn Hallock during the first half of the Wolfpack’s 83-49 victory in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown The News & Observer

Michigan State center Grace VanSlooten scored 15 points and was the only Spartan to reach double figures. The Spartans finished the season 2-6 against ranked teams.

Getting back to an aggressive, stifling defense was an emphasis for the Wolfpack since its 76-62 loss to Duke in the ACC Championship.

“I’ve just been stressing since the ACC championship game, we’ve got to defend better,” Moore said. “I’ll be honest, I was embarrassed. When I went back and watched the film, our defensive effort, our rebounding effort just wasn’t what it needed to be.”

“A lot of our games that we lost, we weren’t playing defense, especially in the ACC Tournament,” James added. “We had to show up and show out on defense today. I think we handled that very well.”

The Wolfpack did what it needed to advance, and quiet any critics.

Though the seniors propelled N.C. State to its win, its four freshmen combined for 19 points, led by Zamareya Jones with 12, and 11 rebounds. Awou added two blocks, while Trygger and Jones each picked up a steal.

“It felt like we ran into a little bit of a buzz saw, but (Moore’s) one of the best coaches in our game,” MSU coach Robyn Fralick said. “He’s won for a long time at every level, at a high level. I think he does a great job, and he’s done a great job for a long time at a lot of places. I think they’ve got a really good team that can continue to make a run in the tournament.”

The Wolfpack will head to Spokane, Washington, for its regional matchup this weekend. It will play the winner of LSU-Florida State; two teams it faced in the regular season.