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• Records: MSU is 18-8, 9-6 in the Big Ten; Ohio State is 26-3, 14-2.
• Radio: WVFN 730-AM
• Coaches: Suzy Merchant is 62-33 in her third season at MSU and 263-153 overall in 15 seasons. Jim Foster is 206-50 in eight seasons at Ohio State and 710-275 overall in 32 seasons.
• Series: The Buckeyes lead, 45-23, having won the last meeting 65-62 on Jan. 9 in East Lansing.
• Last game: MSU defeated Illinois, 64-43, on Thursday at Breslin Center. Ohio State won Thursday at Wisconsin, 83-78.
• MSU update: Though the last meeting with OSU kicked off a three-game losing streak, the Spartans have won seven of their last eight and vaulted back into a tie for second place in the Big Ten with Purdue with three games left. "I don't think we've reached our peak at all," DeHaan said. "We've just got a lot to prove, especially (today). It's going to be a tough game, but it's one we can get. And if we win out, it's a testament to (overcoming) our early stumble in the Big Ten conference season." Their defense has proven to be the primary catalyst - 11 of the Spartans' last 12 opponents have shot below 40 percent. In league games, MSU allows the fewest points (59.0), the lowest field-goal (34.9) and 3-point (28.0) percentages, and it ranks second in scoring margin (plus-5.1) and rebounding margin (plus-3.4). Offensively, nine different players have led the team in scoring, 10 have led in assists and eight in rebounds. The Spartans bench players also outscore their opposition's reserves, 29.1-13.2 per game. "I think our defense is better," than in the first OSU game, Merchant said. "And I think we're a little more confident in our offense, too. We didn't get as much production out of everybody as we have been. Hopefully that carries over. I think we've come a long way."
• Ohio State update: No Big Ten men or women's team had ever won six straight conference titles until OSU clinched it on Feb. 11, the earliest a team had ever secured the league crown. Either Lavender or Prahalis has led the Buckeyes in virtually every game this season, with the sophomore point guard being the high scorer in eight of their last 12 since putting up a career-best 32 against the Spartans. "We have to play better ball-screen defense," Merchant said. "They are a great ball-screen offensive team, led by Prahalis and Jantel. They're just a tough 1-2 punch." Schulze, a 3-point threat who was coming off an injury when Ohio State played MSU in January, is the only other player to lead in scoring - and that was once, and she tied Prahalis. The Buckeyes are 18-0 at home and on a streak of 24 straight wins there, plus they've won 109 of 110 home games against unranked opponents. Foster has only lost nine times in 135 home games since arriving in Columbus and is 99-5 there since the start of the 2004-05 season. However, both Iowa (86-82) and Michigan (59-56) gave the Buckeyes home scares this season, and losses to Purdue and Indiana have proven they're not infallible.
• Prediction: Prahalis needs to be contained - from both scoring and creating off the dribble - if MSU wants to have a chance. A second straight late-game outcome between these two comes down to the Buckeyes' proven end-of-game resolve and the consistency on offense of Lavender and Sammy P. Make it: Ohio State 63, MSU 61
- Capsule preview by Chris Solari
