Michigan State women's basketball captured the Acrisure Classic crown with a thrilling, 78-70 win over Vanderbilt Wednesday at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs. The Spartans were led by double-doubles from both graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault and junior forward Grace VanSlooten.

For the second-straight game, a Spartan reached the 1,000-point career mark with VanSlooten reaching it with a layup in the third quarter. She joins the 1,000-point club just one day after Ayrault did it in a win over California.

With 22 points yesterday and 24 today, Ayrault earned Acrisure Classic MVP honors. For the first time since Jan. 24, 2024 against Purdue, two Spartans scored at least 20 points.In that game both Theryn Hallock and Tory Ozment surpassed 20 points.

VanSlooten led all scorers with 25 points with 10 rebounds for her second double-double as a Spartan. Ayrault added 12 boards to go along with her 24 points for her second double-double this season. They were the only two Spartans to reach double figures. Hallock came close with nine points and a game-high six assists.

Vanderbilt was led by 19 points from Khamil Pierre.

Michigan State improved to 8-0 for the first time under head coach Robyn Fralick as part of the second time in the last three years, going 8-0 to open the 2022-23 and the third time in last five years, joining the 2020-21 season. Vanderbilt suffered its first loss of the season, falling to 7-1.

Both teams started fast, but the Commodores jumped out to an early 14-8 advantage. The Commodores used an 8-0 run, taking their biggest lead of the game 18-8 after a Pierre layup.  The drought was eventually stopped by an Ayrault trey to make it an 18-11 game with 3:42 remaining in the first quarter. The Spartans responded with an 8-0 run of their own to trim it to a two-point deficit. MSU held Vanderbilt without a field goal for the final 4:15, but the Commodores led after the first quarter 19-16.

In the second quarter, the Spartans took the lead 22-21 after a Hallock bucket. Michigan State held the Commodores to only eight points in the second quarter to lead 29-27 headed into the locker room. VanSlooten led all scorers with 11 points in the first half.

Vanderbilt used a 6-0 run to re-take the lead after a Moore trey at the 7:21 mark of the third quarter, 35-33. In a very physical battle, the Spartans held their own, tying it back up at 39-39 after an Ines Sotelo basket. Vanderbilt took control from there, scoring eight-straight leading to an MSU timeout. Michigan State continued to fight getting it back to a two possession game, 49-45 at the end of the period.

In the fourth quarter, the Spartans used a 6-0 run over 1:03 to take a 56-51 lead, heading into a Vanderbilt timeout. Michigan State took its first double-digit lead after an Ayrault trey with 1:57 remaining, 72-62. Down the stretch, the Spartans made their free throws, going 9-for-12 from the charity stripe in the final 10 minutes.

Michigan State returns to the friendly confines of the Breslin Center to take on DePaul on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.

This story originally appeared on MSUSpartans.com.