Relaxing in a chair in the basement of Breslin Center after her team's 73-56 waxing of Michigan on Thursday, MSU junior forward Julie Pagel is all smiles.
During the game, Pagel assumed an entirely different persona as she stepped out onto the court with a scowl on her face and prepared to do battle with the rival Wolverines.
Hauling in a game-and season-high 12 rebounds and tallying three steals during the game, Pagel was the epitome of the blue-collar Spartan defense head coach Joanne P. McCallie has worked so hard to emphasize.
For Pagel, it's all about attitude.
"Never mess with a Native American with braids," she said in reference to both her heritage and the zig-zag pattern of cornrows atop her head. "We mean business."
Earlier that evening the Utica native was definitely a force to be reckoned with. On one possession, she was wrestling the ball away from three Wolverines at once. And all night she was maneuvering up, around and sometimes through players much larger than herself in attempts to nab rebounds.
Every minute on the court is one well spent for Pagel, McCallie said. She emits a defensive intensity teammates said they can't help but find contagious.
"She is so intense even in practice," freshman forward Liz Shimek said. "And it's great to be able to play with her.
"She's not afraid to tell us if we're not doing what we're supposed to. If we're not giving what she needs in practice or the games, she's definitely in our face."
Pagel's work ethic and leadership have been noticed outside East Lansing's city limits as well.
Last summer, Pagel was named to the 2002 Big Ten Foreign Tour team, a squad composed of up-and-coming conference players that traveled abroad while competing against top European teams.
Not one to be overshadowed by the other Big Ten standouts, Pagel averaged team-highs in both scoring (11 ppg) and rebounding (8.6 rpg), while leading her squad to a perfect 5-0 record.
And Pagel said the experience has boosted her level of competitiveness.
"Playing in Europe gave me a new way of looking at things when it comes to basketball," Pagel said. "Women's basketball has always been a big thing over there, they get big players and draw big crowds.
"It was a great experience to have."
Though the box score from Thursday's U-M game showed Pagel tallying just four points, McCallie said her starting forward was far from second-rate. The third-year head coach pointed out that even with 23 seconds left in the contest and the Spartans up by 17 points, Pagel continued her ferocious style of play - blocking the path of 6-foot-3 Wolverine center LeAnn Bies and drawing a charge.
"Julie was big time," McCallie said. "The way she ripped those boards, that's her game. Offense can come and go but her defense and rebounding will win.
"Anyone who takes a charge with 23 seconds left in a game explains a lot about her as a person. She plays with such heart and energy, it's really inspiring."
Her average of just 5.5 points per contest this season - down from the 9.6 she averaged last year - hasn't stopped the experts from hailing Pagel one of the chief components to the Spartans' success, either.
Ed Clark, basketball analyst for womenscollegehoops.com, predicted MSU to finish as high as third in the conference this year - but not without Pagel's aid.
"She's a key
