EAST LANSING- MSU moves on to 6-0 after a 101-44 win over the Detroit Mercy Titans. The Spartans dominated all 40-minutes despite missing graduate guard Julia Ayrault due to a minor injury.
“Good overall team impact tonight I was proud, I thought we did a great job especially at the start of the game setting the tone with our pressure defense,” coach Fralick said.
Junior forward Grace VanSlooten had another great performance, putting up 16 points and seven rebounds.
“I thought Grace did a great job setting the tone early with getting to the free throw line, getting some baskets in the paint really setting the tone and putting pressure on the rim,” Fralick said.
Freshman forward Juliann Woodard had a stellar performance, putting up the team high of 17 points and four rebounds going 3-4 from the arc.
“If I see the rim, normally it’s just let it fly, but yeah, they’re starting to pick up on some tendencies and I gotta adapt to that,” Woodard said.
Woodard came off the bench cold, but her shooting was all heat.
“Juliann, she has consistently shown her ability to come into the game and play fearless, play loose, play confident and put the ball in the basket,” Fralick said.
“She is a great shooter, great scorer, she has a real knack for putting the ball in the basket, and that’s important,” Fralick said.
MSU put pressure on both sides of the ball, performing the trap defense and forcing the Titans to 32 turnovers.
“At the start of the game setting the tone with our pressure defense, something we’ve been really challenging our team on, doing it right and doing it right over and over and over again,” Fralick said.
The Spartans aggressive style offense got them to the line often, where they went 24-37 shooting 64.9%
“I just told our team what I love is we’re getting there all the time,” Fralick said. “I think the rest will work itself out so we just gotta keep being aggressive and keep getting there.”
The Spartans face a tough challenge ahead, as they travel to the west coast to compete in the Acrisure classic against California.
VanSlooten, the Oregon transfer, is familiar with the west coast style of play.
“I definitely know a few things about Cal, and Arizona so, any way I can help out I mean I’m gonna help out,” VanSlooten said.
“What we’ve been sharing in practice is like, every level demands the next,” Fralick said. “So how do we get to that next level where we are being able to execute the nuances, and the communication required on every possession?”
“We’re gonna keep challenging them on that, and we’re gonna see some really good teams and that’s gonna be required,” Fralick said.
The Spartans travel to Palm Springs to face California in the Acrisure Classic next Tuesday at 2 p.m.
