“We know (Kansas) has a pretty good guard who pretty much runs the show for them,” sophomore guard Mandy Piechowski said, referring to Jayhawks guard Danielle McCray. “She’s a strong, big, confident guard. (The MSU) guards want to take that in our hands — (she) has to be our responsibility right from the start.”

McCray averages 14.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. MSU’s leading scorer and rebounder, sophomore center Allyssa DeHaan, averages 14.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

The next leading offensive contributor on the Jayhawks is guard Sade Morris, who averages 9.9 points per game.

Piechowski has continued her rigorous shooting drills from beyond the arc, hoping to continue the momentum of her dagger 3-point shooting she had against Bowling Green into tonight’s game. In the past few weeks, before practice, MSU head coach Suzy Merchant has watched and instructed Piechowski in draining 150-200 shots.

The work paid off when Piechowski made four 3-point baskets against Bowling Green to set the pace and propel the team to victory.

Merchant said she knows Kansas is successful in its offensive rebounding and defending ball screens.

Although the Spartans may know very little about the Jayhawks, they are confident that if they play with the heart and drive they are capable of, Kansas will not be a problem in their WNIT championship quest.

“We’ve just been working on our stuff,” Piechowski said. “We are going to try to do a lot of zone against them because they like to drive.

“But for us, all year it’s really been focusing on what we need to do rather than what they’re going to do, because when we do what we need to do we’re a good team.”

Freshman guard Brittney Thomas said every team is fighting for their season now, and MSU is playing with more hunger than the regular season.

“If you don’t win, this is your last game,” Thomas said.

“Especially now, the team feels like we have something to prove so we’re really out there head-hunting and success is the best revenge — we want to give the (NCAA selection) committee something to think back on next time they question us.”

While it may not be the national championship the Spartans wanted, according to Thomas, it would still be a national championship under their belt nonetheless.

After beating Evansville on Monday, Kansas earned the trip to East Lansing to take on its second Big Ten team of the season. Kansas beat Indiana, 69-61, on Dec. 9. The Spartans split their two games against Indiana in the regular season.

The MSU squares off with Kansas 7 p.m. tonight at Breslin Center.