MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie knows her No. 9-ranked Spartans still have a lot to prove after dropping two of three games in the Paradise Jam tournament in the Virgin Islands during Thanksgiving weekend.

"We're just getting started," McCallie said in a written statement. "A lot of players got to play over a course of three days in great competition. We definitely have some things to improve on and we will learn from this experience."

Before salvaging a victory over Gonzaga in the tournament finale, the Spartans (3-2 overall) dropped a lopsided contest to No. 2 Tennessee in the tournament opener and fell to No. 10 Maryland the next day.

Despite a 19-point performance from senior guard Lindsay Bowen, the Spartans committed 20 turnovers and only shot 33 percent from the field in their 83-55 loss to Tennessee on Thursday. The Lady Vols shot a blistering 57 percent from the field and never trailed throughout the duration of the game.

The next night, buckets were even harder to come by for the Spartans as they were only able to shoot 27 percent from the field in the second half. Meanwhile, Maryland upped its tempo, putting down 56 percent of its second-half baskets.

Bowen scored a game-high 21 points, while senior forward Liz Shimek only shot 3-of-13 from the field, contributing to the team's shooting struggles in the 75-61 loss.

Looking like a rejuvenated team against Gonzaga, the Spartans weren't going to leave the Virgin Islands without something to show.

Junior guard Victoria Lucas-Perry's 15 points ignited a spark in the Spartans, and Shimek added a strong second-half contribution with 13 points. Shimek also added six rebounds and four assists in the 60-45 win.

"We're just trying to get better," McCallie said. "The positive thing is that we got to play a lot of players in critical situations. The bottom line is that wins are the most important thing."

The Spartans return to action this Sunday when they host Pepperdine at Breslin Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.