The starting lineup has been a revolving door for the No. 17 MSU women's basketball team, at least in the last few weeks. Eight different players have been in for the opening tip, yet only two of those players have started every game.
On some teams, competition for a starting spot may cause some animosity, but according to the Spartans, the experience gained by all the numerous starters is invaluable. Junior guard Victoria Lucas-Perry, who has started 20 of MSU's 21 games, said using so many different starters will only serve to make the Spartans better at the end of the season.
"We want to go as deep as we can," Lucas-Perry said. "You want to get as many people into the lineup and get experience as you can. Down the stretch it's going to be important to have (younger players) like Maggie Dwyer and Aisha Jefferson."
Dwyer, a sophomore guard, and Jefferson, a freshman forward, first saw time in the starting lineup during a three-game road trip in January. They've been staples of the lineup ever since. MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie said the decision to insert some new faces in the starting lineup had nothing to do with injury problems or experimentation.
"Basically, you give people opportunities," McCallie said. "If people don't perform — meaning rebounds and assists — then I give other people chances. It's pretty simple.
"If you get out there and get rebounds, and you pick up some assists, or some steals, and you play an overall aggressive game, then you'll be a person who is in the starting lineup consistently.
"If you look at zeros on the stat sheet, where they don't perform and they play 29 minutes, then somebody else is going to get a chance."
Only senior forward Liz Shimek and senior guard Lindsay Bowen have started every game for the Green and White. Though the rest of the starting five may be different on any given night, Shimek said the Spartans' team chemistry hasn't been deterred by the constant change.
"We change the lineup so much in practice, so it doesn't really matter," Shimek said. "It's about who is going to start off the game with a lot of intensity and a lot of heart."
With a new lineup always possible, it's important for Shimek and Bowen to be consistent for the Spartans, while other players get comfortable with their new roles.
"Right now it's about everybody on the team taking ownership, and everyone leading in their own little way," Shimek said.
"Whether it's off the court stuff, being vocal on the court, and doing all the little things that are going to make this team really concrete."
McCallie said she still hasn't found a lineup that she'll stick with, because in her opinion, no combination has played well enough to earn that distinction.
She maintains that what really counts is who can perform when the game is on the line.
"I don't think it's a big deal," McCallie said. "I think it's about finishing, anyway. I don't think the starting lineup means really a heck of beans."
