Chalk one up for the MSU women's basketball team.

With at least a share of the Big Ten Championship under their belts, the Spartans head to Indianapolis March 4 to compete in the Big Ten Tournament. Defeating the No. 2 Buckeyes put wind in their sails, but obliterating the Wolverines in a 77-34 victory Wednesday night sealed the deal.

The women's team outplays most other NCAA teams in every aspect of the game. They dominate the boards, outrebounding the Wolverines 50-31 on Wednesday. They push the ball up the court with both wings flying up the sides. Post players are banging for position on the inside. They have a brick wall defense, chasing and diving after loose balls, doing whatever it takes to shut down the offense. And they don't even look tired.

They have four members of the 1,000-point club, set NCAA attendance records for women's sports and raised a banner to the rafters of the Breslin Center.

This team is extraordinary and has a lot of heart. Even after celebrating in the gym until late Wednesday, the ladies packed up and headed upstairs to chat with fans and sign autographs.

They attended classes the next day and are humble as if saying, "Eh, it's what we do."

Well, they do it well.

This group has broken down barriers by proving that women can make great achievements in sports just as well as men, who often get much more attention. They've set an example that other teams need to follow.

It may take a team this exceptional to get women's sports the respect they deserve, but so be it. This changes the meaning of "playing like a girl."

Winning the championship is the boost of confidence needed for the Big Ten Tournament. The team needs to remain as intense and focused as they were in past games. They need to be prepared to play on an unfamiliar floor and be fired up to win another championship.

The ladies have set high standards to finish up the season and put on a spectacular show for everyone in attendance.

Needless to say, "those Spartans play good ball."