Michigan State women's basketball falls to NC State 3-point barrage in March Madness

Michigan State's Sweet 16 asperations are no more as they've been eliminated from the NCAA tournament.

The Spartans were taken out of the game early as NC State would outscore the team 83-49, while shooting 50% from 3.

NC State guards Aziaha James, Madison Hayes and Saniaya Rivers produced 56 of the team's total points.

NC State's hot start

The Spartans would struggle getting points inside the paint and committed three turnovers in the opening four minutes. The Wolfpack forced Michigan State to take a time out after guard Madison Hayes hit her second three pointer of the game, bringing the score to 12-4.

The Spartans would go scoreless in the last five minutes of the quarter, going 4-for-18 from the floor. NC State, conversely, shot 68% of all their shots as they ran the score up 27-9 to end the first.

NC State's shooting continued to haunt the Spartans as they pushed the lead to as high as 26 points. Spartan forward Grace VanSlooten would put up six points for the Spartans in the quarter as they cut into the lead, but the Wolfpack defense continued to force turnovers leading to open shots sending the teams to halftime with a score of 47-23.

Hayes went 5-for-6 from three in the half scoring 15 points, leading to to the team's most three pointers in a half (41-for-47). Her teammate Aziaha James put up 17 points, shooting 70% from the field.

Not so sweet

Things continued to unravel for the Spartans as the Wolfpack continued its high paced offense. Michigan State only added 13 points in the third quarter with contributions by Jaddan Simmons and Emma Shumate. Michigan State would trail by 33 headed into the fourth.

The Wolfpack pulled James with under eight minutes left in the game. She finished with 26 points, with 12 coming from deep.

With a minute in a half left in the game, Michigan State would call one more time out before the final buzzer, with the final score at 83-49.

Michigan State has yet to get back to the Sweet 16 since the 2008-09 season. Meanwhile, NC State will advance for the second straight year.

Contact Eric Guzmán: eguzman@freepress.com; 313-222-1850. Follow him on X: @EricGuzman90.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MSU women's basketball downed by NC State 3-pointers in March Madness

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Michigan State women's basketball falls to NC State 3-point barrage in March Madness

NC State's hot start

Not so sweet

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