The team absences allowed for multiple players, new and veteran, to step up in place of some key playmakers. 

Coming into the game, Hagemann had been the leading scorer for the Spartans and the best three-point shooter percentage-wise. While Hagemann is not the only well-performing shooter this season, the team struggled from behind the line against Nebraska. 

Ironically, with the absence of one of their best shooters and the fact that the team was coming off its worst three-point shooting night, one of the focal points of the Spartans' offense was their shots from deep. 

Graduate student guard Moira Joiner lit the Chippewas up from behind the three-point line, cashing in a total of seven three-pointers for an efficient 58% on the night from three-point land. Joiner hit five of her threes in the first half, which helped MSU solidify and lead early. 

However, after a late push from the Chippewas, it was up to a few faces that fans of MSU basketballs aren’t used to being in the starting lineup. 

Sophomore guard Theryn Hallock, after coming off her second game in a row where she scored 17 points off the bench, was inserted into the starting lineup prior to matchup against CMU. 

Hallock, who has always been proud to fill her role wherever she can, fit right in with the starting five and even boosted them to an early offensive start. Hallock, in her first career start, scored the first eight points for the Spartans pushing them to a 8-2 lead early on.

The sophomore easily adjusted to the starting line-up and soon became both a key scorer and facilitator as she finished the night with a double-double in points and assists (17 points, 12 assists). 

After finishing her third game in a row with 17 points, Hallock spoke on what it means to be a key contributor to this team. 

"I knew that I had shoes to fill. Honestly, it's hard to fill (DeeDee's) shoes because she does such a good job, but she has been a really good teammate to me and has given me advice," Hallock said after the game. "I knew that as the point guard, I had a big role that I had to take care of, and I think I did that well." 

Another two players that really had to step up both in minutes and for their team as role players were freshman guard Bree Robinson and freshman center Mary Meng. 

Both freshmen have gradually gained as much experience and minutes as possible throughout the season, but after having such a short lineup, they became a key part of the Spartans' play against CMU. 

For Robinson, she made an immediate impact on the slow of the offense with her quick ball movement and her finishing on the inside. Robinson finished with four points and four assists as she continued to find open shooters on offense. 

Meng also stepped up on both the offensive and defensive side after being presented with the tough challenge of facing two experienced CMU forwards/centers that are each six-foot-five. She was able to alter multiple shots on defense and even showed some improved movement on the block on offense. 

After the game, head coach Robyn Fralick quickly spoke on the improvements of both freshmen and how they were a huge piece in their game against CMU. 

"With our situation and today's game, we knew that Mary and Bree were going to play a lot more than they have, and we knew that they were ready because they're kids that work all the time. They stay in shape, they stay in the gym and regardless of how many minutes they are playing, they have a consistent plan for what they do," Fralick said. 

Even after her 27-point performance, Joiner also talked about the performance of Meng and Robinson on how important they were in the game and how proud she was to see their performances. 

"I'm really proud of them; if you choose freshmen out of a pool of freshmen, those are the two that you would want on your team. They’re always willing to learn; they’re always willing to listen. They're in the gym working hard like you never have to question their intentions," Joiner said. 

The Spartans will be back to a near full lineup when both Hagemann and Ozment return once they head to North Carolina for the Cherokee Invitational. 

Their first game of that tournament will be on Wednesday, Dec. 20, against the University of Richmond. Tip-off for that match is scheduled for 9:30 p.m.