The MSU women’s basketball team arguably made its most profound statement of the season beating No. 15 Wisconsin on Wednesday in Madison.

The Spartans (14-6 overall, 4-6 Big Ten) hope to utilize that momentum when they play No. 7 Purdue (16-3, 7-2) at 7 p.m. today in Breslin Center.

After losing six players from last year’s team that reached the championship game of the NCAA Tournament, the Boilermakers are still atop the Big Ten.

Purdue may be different from last season, but its high ranking shows little if any drop-off.

“They have a lot of tradition,” MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. “You’re talking about a program that kept on going with coaching changes happening left, right and center, so I’m not the least bit surprised. They are a very good team.”

Playing a ranked team this season hasn’t been a big surprise for the Spartans.

They are 2-2 against ranked foes, including a win over then-No. 8 Georgia, a season spilt with Wisconsin and a loss to then-No. 18 Michigan.

MSU’s loss to Wisconsin was a down to the wire double-overtime defeat at Breslin Center.

Freshman guard Kristin Haynie said the ranking doesn’t phase the Spartans at all.

“We like playing against ranked teams,” Haynie said. “Every game is big for us. We don’t care how good they are or what they are ranked in the nation, we just have to go out and play our best.”

Purdue suits up forward Shereka Wright, a member of the Final Four All-Tournament Team in 2001. The 5-foot-10 sophomore puts up 17.6 points per game, fifth best in the conference.

The Boilermakers also boast Kelly Komara, a 5-7 guard dishes out a team-high 4.6 assists per game and four steals a game, the best in the Big Ten.

“Their starting five is very strong,” McCallie said.

“It would be nice if we could keep them off their step a little bit by mixing things up and just making sure they don’t get in their comfort zone.”

Haynie said MSU will need to focus on what it does best - play defense.

“We just have to play great team defense all around the post and the guards, and we just have to talk,” Haynie said.

In the teams’ only meeting last season, the Boilermakers made easy work of the Spartans in a 57-34 victory.

Purdue dominated most of the evening, holding the Spartans to a dismal 30 percent shooting and forcing 18 turnovers.

“It’s not really something to prove, it’s more of a payback,” sophomore guard Candice Jackson said.

After tangling with Purdue, the Spartans hop on a bus to Bloomington, Ind., where they take on Indiana (9-11, 3-6) on Sunday.

Haynie said the Spartans will be ready for Indiana whether they win or lose against Purdue.

“Going into that game is the same as any other,” Haynie said. “Just getting prepared and playing our basketball for 40 minutes.”