North Carolina

Michigan State women vs North Carolina prediction: March Madness, NCAA pick is in

Published

2 years ago

March 18, 2024

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Michigan State women vs North Carolina prediction: March Madness, NCAA pick is in

Breaking down the Albany 1 region first-round game between No. 9-seed Michigan State and 8-seed North Carolina:

Records: Michigan State (22-8, 12-6 Big Ten); North Carolina (19-12, 11-7 ACC).

Fast facts: 11:30 a.m. Friday; Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, South Carolina.

TV: ESPN2.

At stake: Winner faces winner of 1-seed South Carolina and 16-seed Sacred Heart or 16-seed Presbyterian on Sunday for spot in Sweet 16 in Albany, New York.

PRINT YOUR BRACKET: March Madness schedule, how to watch the NCAA tournament

About MSU

Location: East Lansing

Coach: Robyn Fralick (First season at MSU; 22-8 at MSU; 85-68 in Division I in six seasons).

School tournament record: 19-18 in 18 appearances.

Past 10 regular-season games: 7-3.

Scoring leaders: Julia Ayrault, 15.4 points per game; Moira Joiner, 14.7; DeeDee Hagemann, 12.4.

Rebounding leaders: Ayrault, 7.2 rebounds per game; Joiner, 4.8; Tory Ozment, 4.7.

Assist leaders: Hagemann, 5.1 assists per game; Joiner, 2.7; Theryn Hallock, 2.7.

3-point leaders: Joiner, 43.2%; Hagemann, 41.4%; Hallock, 37%.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT: Michigan State women’s basketball’s March Madness opponent is North Carolina in 2024 NCAA tournament

The buzz: It’s tough to imagine a more perfect debut season for Fralick, the 2020-21 MAC Coach of the Year and a 2017 national champion while leading Division II Ashland (where she went 104-3) — the Spartans swept rival Michigan and topped 90 points a dozen times, including six times against major-conference opponents. In all, the Spartans averaged 83.7 points a game, good for sixth in the nation, while whooting 48.4% from the field (ninth nationally) and 37.3% on 3s (12^th). That was despite finishing 275^th in rebounds per game. Then again, if you never miss, you never rebound, either. No Spartan made a bigger leap this season than Ayrault in her senior season; the Grosse Pointe North product went from averaging 3.6 points in 10.5 minutes a game last season to 15.4 in 25 minutes under Fralick while making the All-Big Ten first team. Joining Ayrault on the All-Big Ten team was Hagemann, a junior; the former Miss Basketball out of Detroit Edison earned second-team honors while averaging 12.4 points and 5.1 assists a game. Hagemann also took a huge leap, going from shooting 48.2% on 2-pointers and 30.3% on 3s last season to 58.8% and 41.4%, respectively, during this campaign. MSU’s defense isn’t always the sharpest, but the Spartans can stop opponents — or at least slow them down — when they’re focused. Consider their lone matchup against Big Ten champ Iowa on Jan. 2 on the road; the Spartans held the Hawkeyes to 41.8% shooting — including a 14-for-34 performance from all-everything Caitlin Clark, who still had 40 points — before Clark ended it with a buzzer-beating 3 for a 76-73 win.

About North Carolina

Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Coach: Courtney Banghart (95-55 in five seasons at UNC; 349-158 overall in 17 seasons).

School tournament record: 50-29 in 30 appearances.

Past 10 regular-season games: 4-6.

Scoring leaders: Deja Kelly, 16.7 points per game; Alyssa Ustby, 12.4; Lexi Donarski, 10.8.

Rebounding leaders: Ustby, 9.3 rebounds per game; Maria Gakdeng, 5.8; Indya Nivar, 4.3.

Assist leaders: Ustby, 3.6 assists per gae; Kelly, 3.3; Kayla McPherson, 1.9.

3-point leaders: Sydney Barker, 40%; Alexandra Zelaya, 35.3%; Lexi Donarski, 34.6%.

The buzz: An 8-seed is something of a disappointment for the Tar Heels, considering they entered last season’s tourney as a 6 (before falling to Ohio State), entered this season at No. 16 in the polls and had two of the most experienced guards in the nation in Kelly, from Texas, and Ustby, from Minnesota. And as late as Jan. 25, the Heels appeared on track for a top-4 seed. But then came a skid in the ACC, with losses in six of nine games, including two to a top-10 Virginia Tech squad. UNC’s lone conference tourney game didn’t help, either, as the Tar Heels blew a 14-point second-half lead in a one-point loss to Miami. Kelly had 15 points, but made just six of 20 shots from the field, a microcosm of her season in which she bumped up her scoring average slightly, but shot just 35% overall and 28.8% beyond the arc (compared to 37.3% and 28.1% last season). Similarly, Ustby’s percentages dropped, from 50.6% overall and 30.3% on 3s last season to 47.8% and 27.3% in 2023-24. Still, the Tar Heels do a good job of holding onto the ball, with their 12.8 turnovers a game ranking 335^th in the nation, and can change opponents’ shots, as they average 4.6 blocks a game (31^st).

Prediction

This one could be decided in the first few minutes if the Spartans connect early from outside and make the Tar Heels keep up with their top-level offense. But if it turns into an interior slugfest, UNC has plenty of experience making that work. The pick: MSU 75, UNC 57.

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North Carolina

Families locked out of NC State graduation ceremony: ‘Ridiculous’

Published

7 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Families locked out of NC State graduation ceremony: ‘Ridiculous’

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — A graduation ceremony for NC State University’s Department of Biological Sciences at Reynolds Coliseum on Friday night left hundreds of family members outside, frustrated and emotional after they were not allowed into the building.

Inside, graduates were met with pomp and circumstance as they walked across the stage to accept their degrees.

Outside, people shouted in confusion as they realized they would not be permitted to enter.

“I’m hurt. She’s hurting. We’re hurt,” said Dr. Darlene Jackson, a grandmother from Winston-Salem. “They’re asking, can’t we get here? But this is ridiculous. Ridiculous.”

We get here, and we are turned away. That’s BS. It shouldn’t be happening like this. They did not plan this well,

– Sally Charlet, NCSU grandparent

Families said they arrived about an hour before the 7:30 p.m. ceremony, only to find a line wrapped around the building. Many said they were eventually told the venue had reached capacity.

“They are saying the fire marshal shut it down because it’s too crowded,” Jackson said. “They should have known how many occupy this. They should have had it in a different place.”

Sally Charlet said she flew in from Florida earlier in the day to watch her granddaughter graduate.

ALSO SEE | Donor surprises NCSU textile school grads by paying off loans

“We get here, and we are turned away,” she said. “That’s BS. It shouldn’t be happening like this. They did not plan this well, and they should have tickets. That would have made a lot of sense.”

According to GoPack.com, Reynolds Coliseum seats about 5,500 people.

Some families said they were especially devastated after years of supporting their students’ work.

This is awful, and it needs to be made right.

– Eddie McFall, NCSU parent

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“It’s very disheartening,” said Rhonda Bartone, whose son earned his Ph.D. In toxicology. “He did a five-year program getting his Ph.D., and we have no family. And they’re seeing him get his Ph.D. right now. We had to text his professor and ask him to please take some pictures of him. It’s hard not to cry.”

Several people outside shared photos sent by students inside showing empty seats.

“There was unfortunately not better planning for the hundreds of students, maybe even thousands of students, and, of course, thousands of students, even more people, parents, siblings, loved ones,” said Julia Norton, whose fiancé earned his Ph.D.

One father, Eddie McFall, who is also an alumnus of NC State, said he has three children at the university, including a senior graduating Friday.

“His mother was five feet from the door when they shut it down,” he said. “Won’t let anybody in there.”

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About 45 minutes after the ceremony began, someone came outside to address the remaining crowd. Families were told their only option was to watch a livestream from the student union or on their phones.

“I can go to my house and watch the livestream,” McFall said. “Who’s the event coordinator? Who from the school did this? This is awful, and it needs to be made right.”

NC State did not respond to questions about how the situation unfolded or why the event was not ticketed. The university said it provided a livestream for those unable to attend in person and had posted earlier in the week advising visitors to expect delays around the coliseum.

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North Carolina

Fifteen North Carolina co-op lineworkers help electrify rural Guatemala village

Published

19 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Fifteen North Carolina co-op lineworkers help electrify rural Guatemala village

NORTH CAROLINA — Fifteen lineworkers from North Carolina’s electric cooperatives recently traveled to Guatemala to help bring first-time access to electricity to a rural village.

The group spent three weeks working in El Plan Nuevo Amanecer.

Crews constructed three miles of line, bringing power to more than 50 homes, a school, two churches and the community’s only health clinic.

Photo: North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

Without access to bucket trucks or heavy machinery, volunteers worked by hand across rugged terrain.

The project helped bring light to the village, creating new opportunities for education, economic growth and safer everyday life for the community.

The effort was done alongside NRECA International.

Volunteer lineworkers represented several North Carolina electric cooperatives, including EnergyUnited, Union Power Cooperative, Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative, Jones-Onslow EMC, Edgecombe-Martin County EMC, South River EMC, Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation and Rutherford EMC.

Photo: North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

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North Carolina

NC Lottery Pick 3 Day, Pick 3 Evening results for May 7, 2026

Published

1 day ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Thursday, May 7, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 7 drawing

Day: 3-7-3, Fireball: 0

Evening: 3-5-8, Fireball: 9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 7 drawing

Day: 8-1-3-1, Fireball: 5

Evening: 7-1-5-3, Fireball: 4

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from May 7 drawing

10-11-14-19-36

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Double Play numbers from May 7 drawing

01-25-31-32-33

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 7 drawing

05-08-21-44-48, Bonus: 01

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:

Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.

When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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