Spartan Tipoff: MSU vs. Purdue

• When: 7:30 p.m. today

• Where: Breslin Center, East Lansing

• Radio: WVFN 730-AM

• TV: Big Ten Network

• Records: MSU is 11-7, 2-5 Big Ten; Purdue is 9-9, 4-3.

• Coaches: MSU - Suzy Merchant is 56-30 in her third season at MSU and 257-150 overall in 15 seasons. Purdue - Sharon Versyp is 81-41 in her fourth season at Purdue and 201-106 overall in 10 seasons.

• Series: Purdue leads the series, 34-22, but the Spartans have won the past two meetings, including a 57-55 victory on March 1, 2009 in East Lansing.

• Last game: MSU lost Sunday at Penn State, 68-60. Purdue won Sunday at home over Iowa, 81-59.

• Projected lineups

MSU

Pos. Name PPG

G (20) Brittney Thomas (5-10) 6.4

G (15) Cetera Washington (6-0) 2.6

F (30) Lykendra Johnson (6-1) 9.7

F (32) Kalisha Keane (6-1) 9.1

C (41) Allyssa DeHaan (6-9) 12.3

Purdue

Pos. Name PPG

G (20) FahKara Malone (5-3) 7.2

G (5) Brittany Rayburn (6-0) 15.2

G (00) Jodi Howell (5-11) 8.8

F (52) Ashley Wilson (6-0) 5.2

C (40) Chelsea Jones (6-4) 7.0

• MSU update: From a preseason top 25 team to out of the rankings after dropping three straight games, the Spartans' well-discussed goals of making the Final Four appear to be fading with every blown lead and missed layup. More pressing, though, is staying competitive in the Big Ten standings, where MSU has dipped to a ninth-place tie with Michigan. "We're just going through a tough time right now, but I feel we're going to crawl back out of it," senior captain Aisha Jefferson said. "And we're going to understand why we had to go through things like this in the end when the season's over and we accomplish some things we want to." Unlike the last two years under Merchant, closing out games and holding late leads has become a major problem. DeHaan agreed with her coach's assessment that the team experiences mental fatigue late in games. "I think the other team makes a run and all of a sudden we're down by one or tied, and we already have looks on our faces like we lost the game. We're not tough enough to realize we're still in it," DeHaan said. "It doesn't matter if we blew a lead, that's in the past. What matters is what we do next. We don't do anything - we don't make those baskets, we don't finish those layups, so that's what we're working on." Expect freshman guard Jasmine Thomas, who scored a season-best 19 points at Penn State and averages 6.6 a game, to get extended minutes today and possibly even move into the starting lineup. That could lead to other changes as well, perhaps with her and Brittney Thomas both on the court for enhanced ballhandling and athleticism on defense.

• Purdue update: One of the prestigious national programs, Purdue has struggled this season - especially away from home, where the Boilermakers own just two wins all season and none in league play. Like MSU, they've struggled to find a primary offensive threat and consistent outside shooter. Defensively, they allow the second-fewest points in the Big Ten (56.0 a game) but are scoring just 60.8. Purdue also is just about break-even in rebounding (628-627), while averaging 19.6 turnovers also has proven a problem. Malone has quick hands on defense and can distribute the ball. She and Howell both have shown they can score in previous, injury-plagued seasons.

• Prediction: Desperation doesn't appear to be hitting the Spartans' upperclassmen full-on, but the harsh reality is the four seniors have just 11 regular-season games left. A win today is vital to restore some confidence heading into a tough stretch with four of the next five on the road. Another loss could send this high-expectation season spiraling out of their control.

• Make it: MSU 63, Purdue 59

- Chris Solari