Justin Tran
EAST LANSING, Mich.,- After winning in dominant fashion against Detroit Mercy, 104-44, the Spartans closed out their four-game homestand with a win against the Evansville Purple Aces.
The Spartans came out hot in the first quarter with a lot of defensive pressure. They went up commandingly with an early 12-2 lead with five minutes left in the first. Leading the charge was graduate guard Moria Joiner who scored four points in the first five minutes and played ferocious defense.
The Purple Aces coughed up five turnovers in the first quarter which led to some key Spartan buckets. A large part of their success was due to Julia Ayrault who came into the game and made an immediate impact. Getting a quick steal and dishing out the rock to junior guard Jocelyn Tate for the bucket.
“[Ayrault] keeps getting better. She’s fun and she has a lot of experience,” MSU head coach Robyn Fralick said.
The second quarter was not much different, as Deedee Hagemann showing her versatility on both sides of the ball, grabbing a clean block for the Spartans, and getting a nice reverse layup on the other end.
To close out the half, Ayrault dished a pass to Tate to put the Spartans up 47-17. Two free throws and an assist from Ayrault later would vault Michigan State well in front at halftime, 51-20.
To start the second half, Joiner came out and hit her first three-pointer of the night to maintain the momentum for the Spartans.
Five minutes into the third quarter, transfer Gabby Elliot got a quick steal took the ball coast to coast, and dished it to Moira Joiner for a quick 3.
Tory Ozment started to get hot in the third, converting off a steal from Theryn Hallock, getting a quick layup assisted by Lauren Ross, and then getting a steal of her own that would lead to a score on the other end. Tory Ended the night with blank points shooting blank for blank.
The Purple Aces came out strong with their defensive sets, but the Spartans capitalized off of turnovers and led by a score of 80-37.
The Spartans continued to dominate in the fourth quarter and never took their foot off the gas. It started with a steal by Mary Meng and a three-pointer by Lauren Ross off an assist from freshman Bree Robinson. Robinson came right back down the floor and hit a three of her own.
Continuing to build their momentum, the Spartans closed out this game defeating the Evansville Purple Aces 105-49. The Spartans take their talents to Cancun, Mexico to take on James Madison in the Mexico Invitational on Thursday, Nov. 23 at 6:30 pm.