EAST LANSING – For the third time in history, Michigan State and Wright State faced off on Sunday afternoon.
“I just thought we played with a higher level over the whole game and higher level in every possession,” MSU head coach Robyn Fralick said. “Defensively we cranked it up and that really helped open up the game.”
Here are three takeaways from Sunday’s game:
Once the Spartans get ahead, they’re gone
MSU had a slow start but picked it up quickly in the second quarter. The lead changed six times in the first quarter, but it didn’t change once in the second quarter with full control from the Spartans.
“A lot of credit to Wright State. They run good actions and if you make a mistake they take advantage of it and they shot the ball well,” Fralick said.
The Spartans only allowed five points from the Raiders in the second quarter and pulled away to a 25-point lead by halftime, 49-24.
The game closed out with a 44-point win from MSU, 99-55.
This is a team people should be excited about
This is a new year for MSU. There is a lot of excitement built around the program, a new head coach and a mix of old and new faces on the roster.
Five players were in the double-digit club for scoring and the Spartans were on the cusp of breaking triple digits for the first time since 2021 when they played Bryant.
After the game, Fralick teased the players that they didn’t like the number 100 because in their exhibition they also scored 99 points on Davenport.
“I think we should be scoring a lot right now,” graduate guard Mo Joiner said. “I’m glad we’re efficient and we’re shooting really well.”
Rising star players
Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann has been a stand-out player so far this season. She hit a new career high against Oakland with 23 points and on Sunday she hit 17 points.
“She was dynamite,” Fralick said. “Offensively she’s really creative and she’s really smart.”
Some other players that are on the rise are Joiner, senior guard Gabby Elliott, graduate guard Julia Aryault and junior forward Isaline Alexander, who all scored in double figures as well.
“I’m so happy that we do have good scorers like that’s how good teams win,” Joiner said. “When you get to the end of the season then multiple people are going to be in double-digits.”
Up next, MSU will host Detroit Mercy on Nov. 16 at 6:30 p.m. ET.
