Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh was electric on March 24, 2025, as the No. 2 NC State Wolfpack delivered a commanding 83-49 victory over the No. 7 Michigan State Spartans in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Second Round, securing their spot in the Sweet 16. The game started with Michigan State winning the jump ball, but NC State quickly took control—Aziaha James scored a jumper at 9:18 in the first quarter, giving the Wolfpack a 2-0 lead. The Spartans struggled early, with turnovers and missed shots allowing NC State to build a lead. By the 8:38 mark, Madison Hayes drained a three-pointer assisted by Saniya Rivers, pushing the score to 5-0. Michigan State’s Grace VanSlooten answered with a two-point tip shot at 7:53, but NC State’s offense was relentless, with James and Tilda Trygger adding layups to make it 9-4. The first quarter ended with NC State leading 27-9, thanks to a barrage of three-pointers from James and Hayes. The second quarter saw the Wolfpack extend their lead—Hayes hit another three at 9:35, making it 30-9, and James added a three at 6:02, pushing the score to 34-12. By halftime, NC State led 47-23. The third quarter saw NC State pull away further, with James’ three-pointer at 8:40 making it 50-25, and Rivers’ layup at 5:55 pushing the lead to 54-29. The fourth quarter was a formality—Zamareya Jones’ three-pointer at 7:21 made it 74-38, and her jumper at 0:32 sealed the 83-49 win, sending NC State to the Sweet 16 in Spokane.

This game was a showcase of NC State’s dominance, with their stars overwhelming Michigan State from start to finish. Aziaha James led the Wolfpack with 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks, shooting 10-of-17 from the field and 6-of-11 from three, as highlighted by @trendyhoopstars on X. Her three-pointer at 8:40 in the third quarter pushed NC State’s lead to 50-25, a moment that epitomized her impact, while her playmaking kept the Spartans on their heels. Saniya Rivers was a force on both ends, finishing with 18 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals, her layup at 5:55 in the third quarter making it 54-29. Madison Hayes added 15 points and 9 rebounds, going 5-of-8 from three, her three-pointer at 9:35 in the second quarter sparking a run that put the game out of reach. For Michigan State, Grace VanSlooten battled hard with 14 points and 12 rebounds, her layup at 2:58 in the fourth quarter bringing the Spartans to 46 points. Emma Shumate contributed 9 points, including a three-pointer at 0:52 in the third quarter, but the Spartans’ 19-of-58 shooting and 16 turnovers couldn’t match NC State’s efficiency—31-of-62 from the field, 15-of-30 from three, and 6-of-12 from the free-throw line. The Wolfpack also dominated the boards 44-29, with 18 assists showcasing their teamwork, a testament to their depth and chemistry.

The NC State vs Michigan State matchup lit up social media, with fans and analysts capturing the excitement of March Madness in real-time. @MarchMadnessWBB celebrated NC State’s victory, tweeting, 'SWEET 16 BOUND 🐺 NC State advances through the Second Round and into the Sweet Sixteen with a win over Michigan State, 83-49,' a post that quickly gained traction among Wolfpack fans. @trendyhoopstars highlighted Aziaha James’ stellar performance, noting, 'Aziaha James vs No. 7 Michigan State: 26 PTS, 6 RBS, 2 BLK, 10-17 FG, 6-11 3P… No. 2 NC State advances to the Sweet 16!' Rob McLamb (@RobMcLamb) called the game early, posting at the end of the third quarter, 'The Hay is in The Barn… The Wolfpack will reach the Sweet Sixteen for the sixth time in the last seven NCAA Tournament appearances,' while also noting the significance of Rivers, Hayes, and James going undefeated in Reynolds in their final season. Travon Miles (@TrayABC11) captured the atmosphere, tweeting, 'Sorry it had to be you Michigan State. Reynolds rocking for one final time this season. NC State with a firm grip on another Sweet 16 appearance, leading 47-23 at half,' a sentiment that resonated with fans as the Wolfpack faithful celebrated their team’s dominant run.

Reynolds Coliseum was a sea of red and white on March 24, 2025, as NC State fans created an atmosphere that crackled with intensity from tip-off to the final buzzer. The game opened with Michigan State winning the jump ball, but NC State’s Aziaha James quickly set the tone with a jumper at 9:18 in the first quarter, giving the Wolfpack a 2-0 lead. The crowd erupted when Madison Hayes drained a three-pointer at 8:38, pushing the score to 5-0, and the Wolfpack faithful stayed loud as James and Tilda Trygger added layups to make it 9-4. The first quarter ended with NC State leading 27-9, and the fans’ energy never wavered. In the second quarter, Hayes’ three-pointer at 9:35 made it 30-9, and James’ three at 6:02 pushed the lead to 34-12, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The third quarter brought more highlights—James’ three-pointer at 8:40 made it 50-25, and Saniya Rivers’ layup at 5:55 had the fans chanting ‘Go Pack!’ as the lead ballooned to 54-29. The fourth quarter saw NC State cruise to victory, with Zamareya Jones’ three-pointer at 7:21 making it 74-38, and her jumper at 0:32 sealing the 83-49 win. The game was a testament to NC State’s dominance, with players like James, Rivers, and Hayes stepping up in front of a raucous home crowd, leaving fans buzzing about their sixth Sweet 16 appearance in seven years.