After the MSU mens basketball team lit up the scoreboard with flashy dunks and three pointers in its annual Green and White game, the womens team took the court for its Green and White game - and could have kept score on their fingers.
The low-scoring game, a 45-39 win in favor of the Green team, was a direct result of the players working out kinks in the offense that first-year head coach Joanne P. McCallie recently installed.
But the lack of offensive production is the least of worries for McCallie, who said the offense will come as the team continues to work hard.
Thats not really my major concern right now, to be honest, McCallie said. I know that were not going to be a team that will score tons of points, but we are going to put points on the board.
I think right now were just trying to play harder; I think they played a lot harder in the second half and because they played harder they created more offense.
Senior forward and tri-captain Becky Cummings said its hard to adjust to a new program after playing in the same system for three years.
As you can see its very hard to get used to, but I think its coming along very well, Cummings said. Weve had three weeks to work on it. Of course it is frustrating at times. (The coaches) know whats best for the team and that offense is definitely whats best for the team.
Sophomore point guard and tri-captain Vnemina Reese said as the point guard she needs to know the offense better than and before everyone else.
Were coming along, Reese said. Were not slow but were not as fast as we should be right now. Were still getting a feel for the offense.
Its really hard because (the coaches) bring so much enthusiasm to the game. Its something I havent been used to for a while but the transition is coming, (though) its slower than I want it to be.
After the Green squad led 18-8 going into halftime, both teams picked up the scoring as they got more comfortable with the plays, with the Green team recording 31 points in the second half and the White team recording 27 points.
Cummings said even though the team did not completely have the plays down, they did a good job making sure they actually slowed down and ran the plays rather than just playing a transition game.
We did a pretty good job of staying in the plays, Cummings said. Sometimes we get a little sidetracked but I think overall we played pretty well in the second half.
Rather than playing two 20-minute halves, the team played four 10-minute quarters so it could go in the locker room and change jerseys after each quarter. This allowed it to move players between teams.
McCallie said this gave the coaching staff a chance to see who plays well together so it can begin to form a lineup for the Spartans first exhibition game Saturday against professional players from the National Womens Basketball League.
She also said scoring was down Saturday because of shuffling in the lineups, not allowing players to find a rhythm with each other.
Now after this particular Green and White (game) Im going to have a good idea who our first five are and also whos coming off the bench and how they can help us, McCallie said. So its a really good way to see it as you mix people up.