Lansing Sun

Michigan State University's women's basketball team emerged victorious in the Acrisure Classic, defeating Vanderbilt 78-70 at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs. The Spartans were propelled by strong performances from Julia Ayrault and Grace VanSlooten, both of whom recorded double-doubles.

VanSlooten reached a career milestone during the game, joining the 1,000-point club with a layup in the third quarter. This achievement came just one day after Ayrault reached the same milestone in a win over California.

Ayrault's performance earned her the Acrisure Classic MVP honors as she scored 22 points against California and 24 against Vanderbilt. This marked the first time since January 2024 that two Spartans scored at least 20 points in a game. VanSlooten led all scorers with 25 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds, while Ayrault added 12 rebounds to her tally.

Vanderbilt was led by Khamil Pierre who scored 19 points. The loss was Vanderbilt's first of the season, dropping their record to 7-1, while Michigan State improved to an undefeated 8-0 under head coach Robyn Fralick.

The game began with both teams starting fast, but Vanderbilt took an early lead before Michigan State responded with their own run. By halftime, Michigan State had taken a narrow lead. The second half saw back-and-forth action until Michigan State pulled ahead for good in the fourth quarter.

The Spartans will return home to face DePaul on December 8th at Breslin Center.