Now that tournament time is here, every game is do-or-die. The threat of elimination rings especially true to Syreeta Bromfield.
Every game might be the senior forward's last.
"I hear it all the time, it's kind of rough being a senior, but you get used to it," she said. "And of course, you want to go out with a bang and do some damage."
Teammates said Bromfield's contributions are immeasurable - both on and off the court. She leads the team in scoring (14.6 ppg) and is second in rebounding (6.3 rpg).
When the offense is struggling Bromfield creates her own, using her quickness to slash into the lane, and then, either score or kick the ball back out when the defense collapses.
She has led the team in scoring a team-high in nine games this season, reaching double figures in 21 of 28 games.
Bromfield's presence is just as felt off the court, said senior center Jennifer Callier, Bromfield's roommate, a quiet, reserved individual.
"What you see is what you get with Syreeta," Callier said, laughing. "She's the most raw person you'll ever meet, she's got a real in-your-face personality.
"We may be complete opposites, but we get along great, it's a perfect match."
And Bromfield was a good match with the Spartans.
In her first season at MSU, Bromfield was honored with MSU's Player of the Year and Best Rebounder award. And she was the same type of player before she came to MSU.
The Spartans' two-time all-Big Ten pick came to East Lansing after playing two years of junior college ball in Florida.
She closed out her career at Tallahassee Community College as the Eagle's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, tallying 1,055 points while nabbing 529 boards. Bromfield led TCC to the National Junior College National Basketball Championship game in March of 2001, where she was spotted by an MSU recruiter..
Though committing to the Spartans would take her nearly 2,000 miles from her home in Kingston, Jamaica, Bromfield said she was hooked after her first visit.
"(Former MSU assistant coach Katie Abrahamsen) came and saw me play in Kansas and once I got here I knew I didn't have to make any more visits to anywhere else," Bromfield said.
Coming to the Midwest for college was admittedly a huge step for Bromfield. In order to move, she had to leave behind her mother, Melva Reid, and her son, Anieph, who is now 6. After what she called a "rough" first year, the once-timid Bromfield made the adjustment and assumed her role as the team's outspoken leader.
McCallie and other Spartan fans are certainly glad the spirited athlete chose MSU.
"She brings an excellent competitive fire to the court," McCallie said. "She is a great defender and also has the ability to penetrate and create. She has a great competitive spirit and she can really bounce and move. I think that's contagious to the rest of the team."
In her short career with the Spartans, Bromfield has already led her team to new heights. In her inaugural season at MSU, she helped the team to the quarterfinals of the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
This year marks MSU's first trip to the NCAA tourney in six years.
And Bromfield wants nothing more than to win her last game in Green.
"I haven't really decided what to do after graduation yet," she said. "Right now I'm just taking things a little bit at a time, and the thing I'm focused on right now is winning games in the tournament."
