During the past three games, Thomas has averaged 10.3 points on 50 percent (11-of-22) shooting. Although never a threat from outside, Thomas has been effective going to the basket and as a mid-range shooter while at MSU.

“We need her to do that, and I think she can do it more,” Merchant said.

“Watching the film, there’s times when she just defers and we need not to just be, ‘end of the shot clock, I’m gonna take a shot because I have to.’ I do think she looked to shoot the ball a little more, but she can be a little more aggressive.”

In fact, Thomas has taken 22 shots in the last three games after attempting only 20 in the five games prior.

This season, Thomas is shooting 20.8 percent (5-of-24) from 3-point range, but 53.4 percent from inside the arc.

Thomas saw firsthand how effective a driving point guard can be Saturday when Ohio State guard Samantha Prahalis lit MSU up for 32 points on 10-of-20 shooting. She’s also been pushed by freshman guard Jasmine Thomas, who, despite playing 158 less minutes than Brittney Thomas this season, has taken 24 more shots; although Jasmine Thomas is shooting a lower percentage.

“She has improved in that department, but I think she can be even more aggressive,” Merchant said.

“If you have an opportunity to score 20 versus 10, you have to do that for your team. I think she’s pretty satisfied with five, six, seven shots, and sometimes when people aren’t playing, you’ve got to take more than that and step up.”

Free throw shooting

Sophomore forward Lykendra Johnson came into Saturday’s game against Ohio State as a 50.7 percent free-throw shooter (35-of-69).

Against the Buckeyes, Johnson, the team’s leader in free-throw attempts, knocked down 9-of-11 from the line, a career high.

“We’ve had her in the gym shooting it more,” Merchant said. “Probably early on it was a little more mental and now she’s more comfortable. She’s getting fouled six, seven, eight times a game basically just off offensive rebounds, going to the boards.”

Johnson has come on big this season and has emerged as the team’s best rebounder. She ranks third in the league with 8.4 boards per game and is first in offensive rebounds at 3.8 per game. She also has recorded three double-doubles this season.

It wasn’t only Johnson making strides Saturday, as the team hit 84.6 percent of its free throws, raising its season average from 65.6 to 66.9 percent.

In the polls

After the loss to Ohio State, the Spartans (11-5 overall, 2-3 Big Ten) fell one spot to No. 20 in the latest Associated Press Top-25 Poll released Monday.

The Buckeyes are the only other ranked Big Ten team, moving up one spot to No. 5 after beating MSU. Only one other Big Ten team is even receiving votes, MSU’s Thursday opponent, Wisconsin (13-4, 3-3).

The Spartans have played five teams currently ranked in the top 25, including victories against both No. 10 North Carolina and No. 15 Oklahoma State. North Carolina’s only other loss was to Connecticut on Saturday, while Oklahoma State’s other loss was to Ohio State in November.