The regular season might be winding down for the MSU women's basketball team, but the intensity remains high as the Spartans travel to No. 11 Purdue today for a 8 p.m. contest.
MSU (15-8 overall, 8-4 Big Ten) is tied for third place in the conference with Minnesota (19-4, 8-4) and can move into a tie with the Boilermakers (20-4, 9-3) for second if it wins.
And to the Spartans - who are trying to make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997 - another upset over a ranked opponent might be the eye-opener the selection committee needs.
"One of 64 is what our goal has always been," sophomore center Kelli Roehrig said. "It's been our only goal this season and that's what it'll remain as long as we're here."
The Spartans' last matchup with Purdue on Jan. 6 at Breslin Center was a barn-burner.
MSU freshman guard Lindsay Bowen hit a 3-pointer with 24.5 seconds left in the regulation to break a 62-point deadlock. Bowen added two free throws with 4.1 seconds to lift the Spartans over then-No. 7 Purdue, 67-62. She finished with a game-high 21 points, while freshman forward Liz Shimek added a career-high 19 points.
"We played bad that day, real bad," Boilermaker head coach Kristy Curry said. "The more I watch that film, the madder I get. They caught us at a perfect time and they know (it).
"That seems like forever ago though, I can't begin to tell you how much I think we're both very different now, I think they're much better and we're much better now."
Purdue has won nine of its last 11 games since experiencing the upset at Breslin Center. The Boilermakers are 12-0 at home this year and ride a 29-game conference winning streak at Mackey Arena.
Purdue forward Shereka Wright is the team's leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 19 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest. She does most of her damage in the paint and at the charity stripe, shooting 77 percent from the free-throw line.
The Boilermakers' main offense consists of Wright slashing into the lane and either sinking a jumper, drawing a foul or dishing it off to a post player to finish the job.
"They have three really talented players who like to penetrate. We know that's their game," Bowen said. "We have to cut off the penetration and play really intense defense.
"We know that we can play with everyone and we definitely know we need to bring our 'A' game when we play away from home."
MSU has won eight of its last 10 games, and rides a three-game streak when playing outside of Breslin Center.
Sophomore guard Kristin Haynie became the fifth different Spartan in as many games to lead the squad in scoring in the 82-55 win over Michigan on Sunday, something MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie said is one of the great things about her team.
For the season, five Spartans average double figures in scoring - senior forward Syreeta Bromfield (15), Bowen (13.5), Roehrig (12.4), Shimek (11) and Haynie (10.2).
"I think diversity in our offense is absolutely a fun thing for our team," McCallie said. "I think we are more difficult to defend with different people stepping up.
"I love our balance and I think it helps us."
If the Spartans pull off the upset, it will be the first time in three years a team was able to sweep a conference series from the Boilermakers. Penn State was the last squad to accomplish this feat, winning twice during the 1999-2000 season.
A victory over Purdue would mark MSU's first win in West Lafayette, Ind., since Jan. 10, 1988.
