Grace VanSlooten, Theryn Hallock have chance to lead Spartan women's hoops to glory

Michigan State Women's basketball is about to embark on its toughest stretch of the season to date. The Spartan ladies have flown out to California to Palm Springs for the Acrisure Classic.

The action begins on Tuesday with a clash with the Cal Golden Bears. As this year's squad has already showcased, they are ready to make noise near the top of the Big Ten.

Their two games out west this week give them some good prep for later in the season when they face USC and UCLA which are both among the top five teams in the country right now.

Head coach Robyn Fralick has depth and that has nearly always been an issue for the women's program when they have had great talent but lacked the bodies to make a deep run. They made the second round of the NCAA tournament last season in Fralick's first year. Now they are seeking more.

Grace VanSlooten has been exactly as advertised, and she might be playing at an even higher level since her family gets to make the trips to her games now that she is far closer to her hometown of Toledo, Ohio, than she was at Oregon.

VanSlooten has been outstanding thus far, and is coming off a 16-point, seven-rebound performance in the Spartans' victory over Detroit Mercy. She isn't alone as junior point guard Theryn Hallock has also been very impressive, and with her speed and tenacity on defense.

The Spartans have really showcased their press defense, and it's making things tough for their opponets.

Sure, the skill level will be much higher this coming week, but the duo of VanSlooten and Hallock, Julia Ayrault, and freshman Juliann Woodard is coming up big scoring off the bench primarily late in games makes this year's MSU women's basketball team a legit threat not only in the Big Ten but nationally as well.