Lansing Sun

MSU head coach Robyn Fralick and the Michigan State women's basketball team officially opened practice on Tuesday afternoon at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan.

"It's been fun. It's been a motivated group; a connected group," Fralick said addressing the media. "I like our balance of returners, and our influx of new kids too. It's still the beginning stages of building, and everybody's coming together, but it's a group that has been really fun to be around."

The Spartans ended last season with a 21-9 record, reaching the NCAA Tournament in Fralick's first season. Michigan State returns first-team All-Conference forward Julia Ayrault, who also led the team in scoring with 15.4 points per game. Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year Theryn Hallock also returns for MSU. She was fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 11.2 ppg.

Fralick enters her second season with Michigan State, welcoming eight newcomers this season, including four transfers and four freshmen. Among the Spartan transfers are junior forward Grace VanSlooten from Oregon and Emma Shumate from Ohio State.

"There is a better level of comfort for everybody. There is a better understanding of expectations and style of play and how we operate every day," Fralick said. "We feel like now we have an opportunity to push them harder. We are excited that we get to do that. We talked about momentum, but I also share that a year is a long time, either to get better or to get worse. We have to be a team that uses our time to get better."

Both Spartan basketball teams will be on display on Friday, Oct. 4 for its annual Michigan State Madness.

Michigan State will begin exhibition action on Monday, Oct. 28 against Wayne State. The tip-off time has yet to be determined.