GREEN & WHITE BASKETBALL

Agee, MSU women's basketball ready to grow

Brian Calloway
Lansing State Journal
Branndais Agee (10) is one of two starters returning for the Michigan State women's basketball team this season.

EAST LANSING – It was more than getting her senior season started that had Branndais Agee excited for the Michigan State women’s basketball team to officially begin practices this week.

The guard was also excited to pick up a basketball again.

Agee missed time on the court during the offseason, including the Spartans’ trip to Europe in August, because of a foot injury that required minor surgery. But she was back on the court Thursday.

“To finally be out there playing with my teammates and getting up and down on the court – I’m excited about that,” Agee said.

Agee is one of two returning starters for the Spartans and coming off a breakout season where she averaged 11.7 points, 2.0 steals and shot 39.7 percent from 3-point range.

MSU coach Suzy Merchant, who is entering her 10th season in East Lansing, is looking forward to seeing how Agee transitions into an enhanced role with the Spartans having to replace the production of All-American Aerial Powers and others from last year’s team that went 25-9 and finished third in the Big Ten.

“(Branndais is) kind of a little bit behind in terms of conditioning, but she had a really good year last year and I think (is) very underrated,” Merchant said. “I think a lot of people were focused on Aerial and Tori (Jankoska), and she was sort of the third guy that stepped up and really had some big games for us. We’re looking forward to (seeing) her transition into a little more of an aggressive role as a scorer, and at the same time make sure we’re playing within a team unit too. I’m excited about what she brings.”

Merchant is also excited to see how her team evolves with a number of new faces in the program. Notre Dame transfer Taya Reimer and a three-member incoming freshman class that was ranked No. 11 by ESPN HoopGurlz are among the new additions to the Spartan roster.

“I think we have some pieces,” Merchant said. “It’s just about blending it and it’s about being patient a little bit and slowing down and teaching because we’ve got a lot of new faces. It’s a process and it’s a journey and I need to kind of just need to hold my horses a little bit. Last year’s team was a strong veteran team with a lot of kids that were back and kind of knew everything. It's time to slow down a little bit.”

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

MSU women's hoops schedule includes home date with Notre Dame