EAST LANSING — After two dominating performances in the opening week of the 2019-2020 season, the Michigan State Spartans women’s basketball team has moved up one spot in the AP poll. 

MSU, previously ranked No. 17 when the preseason rankings were released, is now ranked as the No. 16 team in the nation.

The first two games for MSU  went as well as they could’ve, with an 85-50 thrashing of Eastern Michigan and a 110-52 victory over University of Detroit-Mercy coming soon after. 

In the absence of Shay Colley, who was knocked up and fell awkwardly at the end of the EMU game, Moira Joiner received the start against UD Mercy and looked the part of a budding star, with nine points and five rebounds in only 16 minutes of action. 

Things will ramp up in difficulty this week for MSU, as they travel to South Bend to take on No. 15-ranked Notre Dame, who is also 2-0 on the start of the young season. The Fighting Irish are led by coaching legend Muffett McGraw, who has led the Fighting Irish to 30 or more wins in each of the last eight seasons. 

MSU on the other hand, will be looking for revenge after the Irish thumped the Spartans 91-63 in the Round of 32 last season.

If the Spartans are able to scratch out a win against an Irish team that replaces all five starters from last season, then it will go a long way in building momentum for a team that will be trying to get back to the NCAA tournament for a second straight season.

You can follow Nathan Stearns on Twitter @NathanStearns11