NORMAN, Okla. – The Michigan State women’s basketball team saw its promising season come to an finish Sunday night, falling to Oklahoma 77-71 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Lloyd Noble Center. The No. 5 seeded Spartans finished the year with a 23-9 record, while the No. 4 seeded Sooners advanced to the Sweet Sixteen with a 26-7 mark.
Despite a strong performance from junior guard Rashunda Jones, who led all scorers with 20 points, Michigan State couldn’t overcome a determined Oklahoma squad on their home court. The loss marks the second consecutive season the Spartans have been eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, halting their bid to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2009.
Jones’ 20-point outing tied for the 10th-most points scored by a Spartan in an NCAA Tournament game. Redshirt-sophomore Kennedy Blair added 14 points and a remarkable six steals, equaling the Michigan State record for steals in an NCAA Tournament contest. Senior forward Grace VanSlooten concluded her Spartan career with 13 points and seven rebounds.
Oklahoma was paced by 18 points apiece from Raegan Beers and Aaliyah Chavez. The Sooners’ size and rebounding proved to be a key factor in the victory, as they consistently challenged the Spartans on the glass.
Michigan State started strong, jumping out to a 9-4 lead early in the game, fueled by five early turnovers forced on Oklahoma. Jones was particularly effective in the first quarter, scoring nine points as the Spartans took a 21-16 lead after 10 minutes of play. Michigan State held Oklahoma scoreless from the field for the final 4:06 of the opening period.
The second quarter saw a shift in momentum, as Oklahoma battled back to take a 27-25 lead midway through the period. A late surge by Michigan State, including a layup from Jalyn Brown and a free throw from Jones, gave the Spartans a 42-37 advantage with 1:07 remaining in the half. Jones led all scorers at the break with 16 points. The first half featured nine lead changes and seven ties, marking the most lead changes in any game of this year’s women’s basketball NCAA Tournament.
Oklahoma came out strong in the third quarter, scoring the first six points to regain the lead at 45-42. Michigan State responded with three turnovers forced in just over a minute and briefly retook the lead at 52-51. However, Oklahoma closed the quarter on a 6-0 run to establish a 57-52 advantage heading into the final frame.
A three-pointer from Oklahoma’s Payton Verhulst at the 6:26 mark of the fourth quarter extended the Sooners’ lead to their largest of the night, 66-58, prompting a Michigan State timeout. While the Spartans fought to close the gap, Oklahoma answered with key shots, including five points from Chavez, to secure the 77-71 victory. The game remained competitive throughout the fourth quarter, but Oklahoma’s consistent scoring proved too much for Michigan State to overcome.
The Spartans will bid farewell to six seniors: Jalyn Brown, Marah Dykstra, Abbey Kimball, Emma Shumate, Theryn Hallock, and Grace VanSlooten. Their contributions to the program will be greatly missed.
Michigan State’s season concludes with a 23-9 record, the program’s best win total since the 2015-16 season. While the Sweet Sixteen remains elusive, the Spartans have shown significant progress under head coach Robyn Fralick, and will gaze to build on this season’s success in the years to come. Oklahoma will now advance to the Sweet Sixteen in Sacramento, where they will face a new challenge in their pursuit of a national championship.
The Spartans’ performance this season, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament, demonstrates a clear upward trajectory for the program. The team’s ability to force turnovers and compete with a strong Oklahoma team on their home court highlights the potential for continued success. Looking ahead, the focus will be on developing the returning players and integrating new talent to build a team capable of making deeper runs in future NCAA Tournaments.
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