“Every day we’re coming in with the attitude we want to win,” senior guard Mia Johnson said.

“We’re in a great position and we don’t want to cheat ourselves out of that. Right now Michigan, they’re playing really well. We know we’re going to have to bring our A-game to beat them. Every day we’re reminding ourselves, teammates holding each other accountable knowing that that’s what we really have to do.”

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. tonight at Breslin Center.

Entering their first game this season against U-M, it was hard to tell the Spartans would be anywhere near the point they are now. Sitting at 3-2 in the conference and testing a fresh lineup for the first time on the road, MSU wasn’t living up to its preseason expectations.

However, since then, the Spartans have been on a tear, first devouring U-M on the road, then winning seven of their next eight games and moving themselves into a tie for first place in the Big Ten.

The improvement has come
as the team grew together, junior center Allyssa DeHaan said.

“I think collectively we really understood how to play with each other,” she said. “Roles are a big key of it. Knowing how to make your teammate better. Passing, executing. I think a really big identity for our team has been just toughness.”

The run to the postseason has been fun, DeHaan said.

“(It’s) really exciting,” she said. “This is what it all comes down to. This is the exciting part of the year. Once March hits it’s magical. You work so hard all summer, all fall for this time. It’s a race but we’re excited for it.”

In the first game against U-M on Jan. 15, both offenses struggled as MSU picked up a 41-37 victory.

To open up the offense tonight, the team has worked to polish its play and improve what it does well, Johnson said.

“Right now we’re just working on our confidence and doing the things that we know we’re good at,” she said. “(We’re) not so much worrying about the teams we are playing but what we are doing. I think down the stretch that’s been the thing that’s gotten us the wins. Right now we’re just working hard every day.”

Offense was especially rough for DeHaan in the first meeting between the two teams this season.

DeHaan was held scoreless in the first half, as she struggled with the size of the Wolverines 6-foot-6 center Krista Phillips.

She finally found some space in the second half, finishing with a game-high 12 points.

“I think I let the pressure and the physical part get to me the first half,” DeHaan said. “I just need to be strong. When I went at them, good things happened.”

The Spartans have won three straight games against U-M and leads the all-time series 51-15. However, with the loss of sophomore guard Brittney Thomas, and U-M’s subsequent gain of forward Carmen Reynolds, the Spartans will have to work that extra bit more to win the game.

“This is huge, we’re coming down to the wire,” DeHaan said. “We’re in a great spot and we’re excited to keep going. … It’s a big game for us.”