MSU Women: A win, but some work ahead

Yes, yes, it's good to be back in the "win" column. But the MSU Women's 71-41 win over Delaware State at the Breslin Center Thursday night made a few things clear:

• Before their Big Ten season kicks off Sunday at Penn State, the Spartans need to get a big handle on turnovers. (They had 20 in Thursday's game -- nearly all of their own doing.)
• Kalisha Keane needs it drilled into her head that she cannot be making cross-court (or nearly full-court) passes. Period. Too often she throws them too high, too hard and off target for it to be worth any kind of risk. Thursday night's game looked like she was doing a poor audition for the Harlem Globetrotters. 
• Allyssa DeHaan needs to touch the ball MUCH more often. In the first 9 minutes of Thursday's game, she had 10 of her 15 points. Keep her out near the free-throw line and she's a strong, confident shooter. 

If the women expect to be competitive in the Big Ten this year, they need to get the message on these points loud and clear ... and now.

Up next: Noon Sunday at Penn State; watch it on the Big Ten Network.

Then: 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29, at the Bres for the Big Ten home opener against Indiana. Go Green.