During the Michigan women's basketball team's game against in-state rival Michigan State on Jan. 15, a small contingent of the Maize Rage pointed at Michigan State coach Suzy Merchant and chanted, “Coach is hot! Coach is hot!”

Unfortunately for the Wolverines, their shooting during the game was decidedly not. Michigan made just 22 percent of its shots and 6-of-35 attempted 3-pointers in the 41-37 loss.

But senior forward Carly Benson said the Wolverines are changing their game plan tonight in East Lansing.

“We’re gonna make some of our shots,” she said.

Benson meant it as a joke, but it’s a pretty solid prediction. Since the Michigan State game, Michigan's shooting has drastically improved. The team's field-goal percentage has increased 6.7 percent and its 3-point shooting has increased 6.1 percent.

Part of the reason for improvement in shooting percentage has been the emergence of freshman forward Carmen Reynolds. Reynolds has established herself as a versatile offensive threat both in the paint and behind the arc. She has the team's best 3-point percentage.

“Carmen’s been playing great,” sophomore guard Veronica Hicks said. “We’re looking forward to her stepping it up.”

Reynolds’ presence inside has taken some of the scoring burden off Benson, who is shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc since the last Michigan State game. Michigan will look to Reynolds to establish herself in the post once again.

This doesn't mean Michigan coach Kevin Borseth doesn't want his players to shoot. He has stressed all year that he has no problem with his players shooting "rhythm shots."

“He definitely wants us to shoot if we’re open,” Reynolds said. “But when you pound it inside, it opens up passes to the wings and things happen.”

Against the Spartans (11-3 Big Ten, 18-7 overall), that’s easier said than done. Boasting one of the biggest frontcourts in the Big Ten, Michigan State leads the conference in rebounding and blocked shots.

A big reason for that is 6-foot-9 center Allyssa DeHaan, who is the second-leading shot-blocker in the Big Ten.

DeHaan scored 12 points against Michigan last month, six of which came on free throws.

After their last run-in with the Spartans, the emotions of the rivalry spilled over and a few Michigan players had tears in their eyes.

“We definitely look forward to this game,” Hicks said. “This year, we’ve made it known that we come to play.”

But Borseth, in his second year in Ann Arbor, said he personally doesn’t put it above any other game.

“I think if you’re not aware that Michigan and Michigan State has a tradition, you need to get out from underneath that rock,” he said. “We’re not trying to do anything more than win a basketball game.”