“We’re all competitors,” Hines said. “None of us are going to roll over and die; we’re going to compete no matter what.”

Although she is graduating, senior forward Lykendra Johnson also said she feels the rest of the team can grow from Saturday’s loss, and she expects them to compete at a high level again next year.

“We can build off of this,” she said. “We’ll get a good feel of it in the preseason and know what to look forward to. They’re not going to be a young team next year and hopefully it will all work out.

Bell’s Curve
The Spartans will have 12 players returning next year, including sophomore guard Klarissa Bell, who has grown into a starting role over the course of the season.

After spending the first half of the season as more of a role player, Bell emerged as a consistent starter for the team, finding her niche with the team. She led the Spartans in scoring in Saturday’s game with 12, while also also grabbing seven rebounds — including four offensive boards — on the day.

However, Bell still has room to grow, and said head coach Suzy Merchant pushed her to shoot more in the second half.

“(She) told me I can’t be passive if I want to be out on the court,” Bell said. “So I went out there during the second half and started scoring.”

Foul Play
One of the biggest hits the Spartans took in the first half came just over four minutes into the first half, when Lykendra Johnson was called for her second foul.

Johnson found herself on the bench for the rest of the first half, since Merchant could not risk her defensive leader fouling out during a crucial part of the game.

“It was a problem for us,” Merchant said about Johnson’s foul trouble.

She added Hines did a good job of stepping up during Johnson’s absence, but could not make up for the leadership and tenacity Johnson brings to the team.”

“That definitely hurt us,” she said. “We played on our heels a bit from that time on.”