EAST LANSING- Michigan State Women’s Basketball comes in at number 24 in this week’s AP Poll, after a successful tournament win in Palm Springs at the Acrisure Classic. 

The Spartans are 8-0 thus far, and this is their first AP Top 25 ranking under second year head coach Robyn Fralick. 

Michigan State made a name for themselves in Palm Springs, handing two undefeated teams their first loss of the season. 

MSU beat California 78-72, thanks to the monster performance of graduate guard Julia Ayrault, who had 22 points and nine rebounds. 

This was a historic game for Ayrault who racked up her 1,000th career point, and helped the Spartans come back from a 16-point deficit late in the third quarter. 

MSU would head to the championship round to face an undefeated Vanderbilt team for the trophy. 

The Spartans beat Vanderbilt 78-70, with another huge performance from Ayrault, who put up 24 points and 12 rebounds. 

Junior forward Grace VanSlooten had the team high of 25 points with 10 rebounds, while also earning her 1,000th career point. 

This tournament was a defining moment for the Spartans season, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with. 

Earning a ranking in the AP Top 25 is a huge success for Fralick, who is only in her second season of coaching at MSU. 

Fralick made history last season being the first MSU Women’s Basketball coach to make the NCAA tournament in their first year. 

Although MSU suffered a devastating loss in the first round to North Carolina, the Spartans have proven that they have the ability to go further. 

MSU will face DePaul this Sunday who ranks 11th in the Big East and is 4-5 on their season. 

After DePaul, the Spartans will enter Big Ten play against the Iowa Hawkeyes who have made back-to-back National Championship appearances. 

This early season AP Top 25 ranking is huge for the Spartans, and it just may be the shot of confidence they need to climb higher up the ladder.  

MSU will face DePaul this Sunday at the Breslin Center at 2:00 p.m.