VanSlooten led the game in scoring with 19 points but was aided by teammates like junior guard Theryn Hallock, who had 13 points and four assists, along with graduate forward Julia Ayrault, who filled the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds and three assists.

It's early in the season, but MSU wants to establish itself as a quick-paced, aggressive, defensive-minded team. The Spartans forced their way into the paint with ease, scoring 54 points, which created numerous opportunities at the free-throw line early on.

It was this paint scoring that created most of the shots for MSU in the first half, with VanSlooten as a key contributor. Scoring 14 in the first half, she seemed to reach the painted area with no difficultly every time she touched the ball.

"(Paint scoring) is a little bit of how we’re constructed," head coach Robyn Fralick said postgame. "I think this team does a good job putting pressure on the other team on both sides of the ball and finding ways to get to the free-throw line and finish."

The effort was everywhere Friday night for the Spartans, who rarely wasted possessions on either side of the floor. 

"Our energy and effort has been really good," Fralick said. "That has been a core of how we play and who we are and that has to stay really good."

The starters' effort was matched by the bench unit, which scored 45 points. The known depth problem for MSU last season has improved through two games. 

Off the bench for MSU came stellar defense and continued scoring inside, which drew a number of fouls. Redshirt freshman guard Kennedy Blair was all over the floor, scoring 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds to add a boost in the second half. Eight steals also came from the bench, with freshman center Inés Sotelo and Blair each grabbing three.

A key member of MSU's strong fourth-quarter unit Friday, redshirt freshman center Mary Meng, knows how important the second unit will be this year.

"We knew we only had 10 minutes to play, so why not just give it all we had?" Meng said. "It’s been fun over the last couple of games, having opportunities to play with those teammates and I think we’ve just continued to improve."

Too much depth is always a good problem to have, and based on its first two games, MSU is in a much better position in that regard compared to a year ago.

MSU will aim for a 3-0 start to the season against Eastern Michigan on Monday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Breslin Center.