The MSU women’s basketball team hits Breslin Center floor for the first time in more than two weeks tonight.
After winning four of five games on the road, the Spartans (6-1) look to continue their early season success against Oakland (2-2) at 7 p.m. today in Breslin Center.
After two late-game wins against Detroit and Marquette in the past week, the Spartans hope to continue the winning streak, though they’d like to see a larger margin of victory.
“(Playing in tight games) has been a good experience for us,” head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. “But we are not a dominant team yet. We’d like to be a dominant team.”
The Grizzlies have averaged only 62 points per game but have capable scorers both inside and outside.
Forward Sarah Judd has averaged 18.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and guard Katie Wolfe carries a .412 three-point percentage and averages 20.8 points per game.
The combination will challenge the strict Spartan defense, which has only allowed an average of 58.4 points per game.
“We’re always going to concentrate on defense,” McCallie said.
“We’re going to give (Judd and Wolfe) respect, but we’re not going to just let them score.”
But the Spartans will not rely completely on their defense.
Junior forward Syreeta Bromfield leads the team in scoring with 17.7 points per game with double digit point totals in MSU’s last six games.
And with a combination of approaches, she’ll be looking for the seventh game tonight.
“I know I’m going to look for the shot and if that doesn’t work I’m going to look to drive,” Bromfield said.
“If the shot comes first, that’s what’s going to play. If the drive comes first, that’s what’s going to play.”
With a win, the team would keep pace with the 1999-2000 squad, which also started its season with a 7-1 record.
That team accumulated an overall 19-12 record before finishing its season with a 77-45 loss to Wisconsin in the quarterfinals of the Women’s NIT.
But McCallie said the team is looking at its progression this year, not what happened in the past.
“We’re just trying to get better everyday,” she said. “We’re trying to put together a strong 40-minute game. We haven’t done that yet.”
After the game the Spartans will enjoy a 10-day break before their next contest against Wisconsin-Green Bay on Dec. 15.
While the players will have academic matters to attend to during the recess, they said they are still looking forward to some days off after traveling for two weeks.
“The break will be good for us because it’ll give us a chance to work on all the things the coaches have been talking with us about,” junior center Jennifer Callier said.
“We won’t have to worry about each team’s offense and defense, we can just work on our skills.”
