“That kid has been a beast on the boards,” head coach Suzy Merchant said. “That kid has, all of a sudden, the light’s come on. If we need defense, it’s Cetera. If you want to lock someone up, you go to Cetera.”

Washington tied a career high with nine rebounds Sunday against Minnesota and has averaged almost five boards in about 18 minutes per game during the past five contests. Washington’s renewed rebounding drive came from discussions with associate head coach Shane Clipfell.

“Coach Shane has brought me aside a few times, telling me I can help this team by rebounding,” Washington said. “Every now and then you’ll see me get an O-board, but defensively I can really be in there getting boards, like long rebounds, especially when our bigs are doing such a good job boxing out players.

“Us guards need to get in there and get more D-boards. (Clipfell) sat me down and watched a few films of my defensive rebounding and my offensive rebounding. … I’ve just been really paying attention to that and just trying to get in there and help my team out.”

At this point of the season, Merchant doesn’t seem concerned about Washington’s offensive output, instead being happy with what she is bringing in other facets of the game.

“She does enough for us, she doesn’t need to shoot outside shots and pull-up jumpers,” Merchant said. “We’ve got enough people that can do that. She needs to go get it, get hustle points, and she can get us six to eight points without ever taking an outside shot.”

Senior guard Mandy Piechowski got another taste of Washington’s defense in practice Tuesday.

It was “swarming,” she said.

“She’s very lengthy,” Piechowski said.

“You always hesitate with your passes. You think she’s not going to get it and her hand is right there to swat it away, the same thing with your shot. You can’t take the normal shot you’d take with normal defenders on you.”

Big popularity

During her Senior Day speech Sunday, senior center Allyssa DeHaan specifically thanked the Spartan Brass and all the children that attend games. At the team’s postgame autograph session Sunday, it was more evident than ever how popular DeHaan is with kids.

“I would ask the little girls who their favorite player was and every one of them was, ‘Allyssa DeHaan, Allyssa DeHaan, Allyssa DeHaan,’” Merchant said. “I quit asking because I started feeling bad for the other girls.”

During Sunday’s game, seven children each held up a green and white letter of her name.

“I think she’s taken on that role model (aspect) and understanding what an impact she’s had in this community, and I think that’s been a big maturity and growth point for her to realize how big of an impact she can have on the people around her,” Merchant said.

Feels like the first time

Senior center Allyssa DeHaan and junior forward Kalisha Keane both did something that’s never been done by any MSU women’s basketball player.

Monday, DeHaan became the first Spartan to be named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year while Keane now is the first Spartan to be called Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year.

“It’s really exciting,” Keane said. “I had no idea when coach told me. It was an exciting time. I just gave it up to my teammates because they’re finding me in great positions offensively, and defensively I’m trying to work as hard as I can for my team and continue to get better at that.”

Keane was no doubt aided by her career-high 27-point performance Thursday against Purdue, which likely stood out in the eyes of the league’s coaches when they cast their ballots.

“It’s always a great feeling to know my hard work is being respected out there,” Keane said.