Clutch plays, relentless defense, and Kennedy Blair's dominance paved Michigan State's narrow victory. They battled to survive and advance, punching their ticket.
Survive and advance. It’s the name of the game, and it’s exactly what the Lady Spartans were able to do.
Michigan State battled through a gritty, back-and-forth contest against a strong-willed Colorado State team Friday night, surviving a barnburner to come away with a 65–62 victory and punch their ticket to the Round of 32.
The game delivered everything you’d expect from an NCAA Tournament matchup—lead changes, clutch plays on both ends, timely shooting, and relentless defense. The Spartans trailed for much of the second half but came up big when it mattered most in the fourth quarter. Despite a last-second three-point attempt by the Rams that could have tied the game, Michigan State held firm and willed itself to victory.
With the win, the Spartans now move on to face the No. 4-seeded Oklahoma Sooners Sunday night at 8 p.m. EST. But before looking ahead, it’s worth breaking down how MSU escaped with a hard-fought three-point win.
Colorado State knocked down several timely three-pointers, especially in the first half, which not only kept them in the game but helped them grab momentum at key moments. The Rams finished 5-for-18 from beyond the arc, slightly outperforming Michigan State, which shot just 4-for-21 from deep.
While the Spartans advanced, there are still areas that need quick improvement. Free throw shooting—often a decisive factor in close games—was inconsistent. MSU went 11-for-18 from the line, good for 61 percent. It’s not ideal, but it’s also hard to dwell on it too much after grinding out a win like this.
The Spartans were led by the ever-dominant Kennedy Blair, who once again proved why she’s the engine of this team. Blair finished tied for a team-high with 18 points, but her impact went far beyond scoring. She controlled the game defensively, recording three blocks—all in the second half—and each one more crucial than the last.
Blair also pulled down six rebounds, showing relentless effort on the glass, and added two assists. One, in particular, stood out—a laser pass from near the logo that looked eerily similar to a Matthew Stafford dart over the middle. The ball zipped straight to Ines Sotelo, who finished the play with a layup. At the time, Michigan State was struggling offensively and trailing early, but that sequence helped spark some much-needed energy.
On the very next possession, Blair attacked the heart of the Rams’ defense, finishing through contact for an and-one. The flex that followed said it all—she had established herself as the most dominant presence on the floor.
Jalyn Brown also delivered a strong performance, finishing with 13 points while shooting an efficient 3-for-6 from three-point range. She set the tone early, knocking down a deep triple for the game’s first basket to give MSU an immediate boost of confidence.
Brown came through again in the third quarter when the Spartans looked out of sync and trailed by four late in the quarter. Her second three-pointer cut the deficit to one and helped reignite the offense. Then, in the fourth quarter, she delivered her biggest shot of the night. After Blair’s third block, the Spartans pushed the ball up the floor, and Blair found a wide-open Brown, who calmly buried another three to give MSU a crucial lead after trailing for most of the half.
Grace VanSlooten provided the steady presence Michigan State needed throughout the game. When things got chaotic, she was the one delivering tough, physical buckets—often absorbing contact from multiple defenders and still finding a way to score.
VanSlooten got going in the second quarter, sparking a personal 6–0 run with a pair of strong layups, followed by a steal that led to another bucket in transition. From that point on, she never looked back. As she has done all season, she embraced the physicality and continued to battle, finishing tied with Blair for a team-high 18 points.
Now, Michigan State turns its attention to Oklahoma, a team that cruised past Idaho in the first round with an 89–59 victory. The Spartans will need to bring their best effort yet and will likely need another standout performance from Blair, Brown, and VanSlooten if they want to keep their tournament run alive.
One thing is certain—if Friday night proved anything, it’s that this team knows how to fight when it matters most.