“When you look at our bench and the kids we have, Mandy is the most complete guard on the team,” MSU head coach Suzy Merchant said. “(She’s) not the best guard, I don’t mean it in that way, but she can pass, dribble and shoot, and she can play defense.”

Merchant said although Piechowski isn’t the fastest player on the court, she is sufficiently athletic and is never out of position.

“Other kids I play, it’s an offense person, or just a shooter, or just a driver,” Merchant said.

“I feel like what you get with Mandy is a threat to handle it, drive it, pass it, shoot it, as well as you get a kid that’s pretty solid defensively.”

In addition to being the most “complete guard” on the Spartans squad, Piechowski is emerging as a threat from beyond the arc, draining 14 3-pointers this season in her 18 games through Wednesday.

In those 18 games, Piechowski has played 219 minutes and scored 53 points — averaging 23 minutes a game in her last four.

Compare those stats to last season, when she saw action in 12 games for a total of 37 minutes and nine points, and it is safe to say her play and understanding on the court have improved as she saw the opportunity to step it up.

“It definitely feels great (helping out the team) on the court,” Piechowski said.

“Coach keeps talking about how, when we were losing, we needed a leader and someone to step up in a lot of different areas. The main thing I have to do is bring energy on defense and more leadership on the court, and those are the two things I’ve been focusing on.”

Piechowski and sophomore center Allyssa DeHaan have developed a bond the last two seasons because of the fact that they have been roommates. Piechowski said she knows DeHaan likes the ball quick in the post and that she has to get it to her fast to go up with it.

Merchant said one reason the two are successful on the court together is that Piechowski understands DeHaan and knows her style of play.

“(Piechowski) is a great leader, she talks and directs,” DeHaan said.

“We’re young and don’t have a whole lot of strength, as in one person who just consistently comes out and is a leader, and she is stepping up to that role and bringing more of that direction and getting everyone to communicate.”

Being a leader is something that came natural for Piechowski in high school as a point guard, and it’s a role she sees herself filling for the Spartans more and more. Merchant agrees and said Piechowski is well liked on the team and people respect her.

“I know this sounds trivial, but I think when people like you, they respect you, and when they respect you they listen to you,” Merchant said.

“Mandy is highly thought of by her teammates and by her work ethic and the kind of person she is, which means a lot in the respect factor.”