"Not gonna lie, I was scared, like nervous, because usually my role is not that big," Sambolić said after Wednesday's win over Northwestern. "But Spider [Jones] is out currently, and I wanted to replace her as good as I can."

For a player who said she was “nervous,” she hardly looked it on the court. Sambolić finished with 13 points and six assists without a turnover, adding a steal in a dominant 104-68 victory. She shot efficiently — 3-for-6 from the field, 2-for-2 from 3-point range and 5-for-6 from the free-throw line — an impressive all-around stat line in a career-high 30 minutes.

It was a perfect embodiment of one of MSU head coach Robyn Fralick's philosophies for her players: "You can't get ready when you're called on, you got to be ready."

So how does Sambolić stay ready?

"My mentality during practice is like I'm playing a championship," Sambolić said. "Everything starts in practice, so you have to practice 100% so you can be prepared during the game, because the game requires so much more than practice."

The junior’s mentality makes her a perfect fit for Fralick’s program — a hard worker who “stays ready” in a system that relies on every player. She looks built for the green and white and was not discovered until her performance at the 2024 U20 European Championship.

"The first person that reached out to me was coach [Joel] Whymer. I played in the European Championship under 20, and I had a really good tournament," Sambolić said. "Coach Whymer reached out to me, and we started talking about college basketball, and I was obviously really interested."

Sambolić made a name for herself 4,566 miles from East Lansing. Since 2021, she has competed for Slovenia’s U18, U20 and senior national teams, winning three gold medals in U18 and U20 tournaments. Though she grew up across the Atlantic, players such as Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers drew her to college basketball and the opportunities the NCAA offers.

So when the chance to become a Spartan arrived, it was a no-brainer. She committed Aug. 15. The move would not only help expand her game, but also make balancing academics and athletics more manageable.

"In Europe, if you want to play professional [basketball], you can play, but it's really tough to do academics really good also," Sambolić said. "My mom is a professor. She wants me to get a degree. So when I got the offer to play in college, she was like, 'yes, just finish school.'"

It seems to be a dream scenario for all parties involved. MSU gained an experienced guard, Sambolić gets the chance to continue developing her game on one of the best teams in the Big Ten, and her mom gets to watch her daughter work toward a college degree.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of all is the welcoming culture that has allowed Sambolić to find a home 4,566 miles from East Lansing — and it shows on the court.

"Because my teammates are such good friends, I know they trust me. I trust them. And with that kind of mentality and relationship. I know I can do anything, so I am comfortable on the court," Sambolić said.

With Jones listed as day to day, it remains unclear whether Sambolić will be in the starting lineup against No. 23 Minnesota. But one thing is certain: She’ll be ready to play her role. The ranked road matchup against the Golden Gophers tips off at 6 p.m. today, a pivotal game for the Spartans as they push to secure home-court advantage in the NCAA Tournament.