Despite all its recent success, the MSU women's basketball team has never opened the Big Ten season 4-0 under head coach Joanne P. McCallie.
With a 3-0 league record already under their belt, tonight's game against No. 13 Purdue could change that for the No. 20 Spartans.
But it won't come easy, as the Boilermakers come into Breslin Center 3-0 in conference play.
"It doesn't get any easier," McCallie said. "If you think Purdue is an easy opponent, there's something wrong with you."
To add to the drama, both teams are coming off tough nonconference losses. The Spartans went to Maryland and fell 97-57 while Purdue traveled to Texas and dropped a close 64-60 decision.
"I definitely feel like both teams are disappointed with their losses," sophomore forward Aisha Jefferson said. "We're both going to come out fired up. That's what the Big Ten's all about. We're always coming out ready to play."
Purdue features the Big Ten's stingiest defense, giving up just 52.4 points a game.
"It's going to be really key for us to get on the boards," senior guard Victoria Lucas-Perry said. "It's going to be important for us to focus on our defense because we gave up the most points we have all season against Maryland. We have to get back to doing what we need to do and playing the way we need to play."
Not only is Purdue's defense in charge most of the time, its offense isn't too shabby either and puts up an average of 71.4 points per game, which is good for third in the league.
"We have a tall order against a very offensive-minded team," McCallie said.
For starters, Purdue guard Katie Gearlds is second in the league at 18 points per game.
The matchup, though, will be in the frontcourt as Jefferson and freshman center Allyssa DeHaan will have their hands full with Purdue forwards Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton and Erin Lawless.
The big thing McCallie wants out of her team is aggressiveness, saying her team needs to keep the same level of intensity for the entire game.
"We need to be more attacking," McCallie said.
"We need to get to the line at least 25 times a game or more."
