STARKVILLE — It’s not surprising to see basketball teams excel on defense in November and December as their offenses catch up.

When you’re coached by someone with a nickname of “Secretary of Defense,” it’s even less surprising that you’re able to force 38 turnovers in your first two games.

But even Vic Schaefer can look at his team’s scoring output in victories against Villanova and Maine at the Maine Tipoff Tournament and smile because he knows his Mississippi State women’s basketball team is ahead of schedule on offense.

No. 10 MSU (2-0) will put that offensive chemistry on display at 7 tonight when it takes on Tulane (1-0) at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi. The game can be heard locally on WKBB-FM 100.9. Fans outside that area can listen to the live stream on HailState.com.

“Our offense is at a place I haven’t seen in a while, especially this early,” Schaefer said. “I think our execution is good, but again you have to give our kids credit. We have some really skilled players. We have some skilled kids who can do some things with the ball offensively. I have got 13 players and 10 of them are shooting 50 percent or more from the field.”

MSU shot 56.9 percent from the field in victories against Maine (87-43) and Villanova (108-62). Junior transfer Roshunda Johnson led the way by going 12 of 14 from the field, while junior guard Victoria Vivians was 11 of 23 from the field.

Centers Teaira McCowan (9 of 14 from the field) and Chinwe Okorie (5 of 9) added to the production. On the flip side, MSU held its opponents to 37.3 percent shooting from the field and allowed only three 3-pointers.

“I think we took away the 3-point line, which both those teams love,” Schaefer said. “I was really surprised with Villanova to hold them to one three because they averaged almost eight-and-a-half the year before and they had four starters back. It was the same thing the second night (against Maine). We sat there and watched them make a bunch against Purdue. We went out there and held them to two.”

Schaefer said he would like to have a game at another location in the state to spread the word about his program. He said the team wasn’t able to hold a game in Jackson this season because of a scheduling conflict with the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

“I am excited for our kids from the coast, Jazzmun (Holmes) and Ameshya (Williams), to get to go home and play in front of their families,” Schaefer said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to expose the rest of this great state to women’s basketball here at Mississippi State.”

Holmes, a former All-State guard at Harrison Central, matched her career high with 12 points and dished five assists in the season-opening win against Villanova. Williams, a West Harrison standout, had eight points in her first collegiate games. She pulled down five rebounds against Maine, four coming on the offensive glass.

Vivians, who is from Carthage, earned MVP honors in Maine after scoring 26 first-half points in Saturday’s championship game. Johnson paced MSU with 17.5 points per game. She scored 21 points in her MSU debut, and followed it with 14 fourth-quarter points against Maine.

“I am proud of the first two wins of the year, two great wins for us in the early part of the season,” Schaefer said. “Now we have to go get ready to play a really good Tulane team with a veteran coach, a veteran staff, a senior point guard and returning leading scorers. They won’t be intimidated playing another SEC school, and the fact that we are playing them on a neutral floor will give them even more incentive and more confidence. We have our work cut out for us.

NOTES: Tickets for the game are $10 for reserved seats and $5 for general admission. High school students and younger get in free. Fans can purchase tickets through www.ticketmaster.com or at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office. … On Tuesday, MSU climbed to No. 9 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs moved up two places after ranking No. 11 in the preseason. … There will be plenty of activities involved with No. 10 MSU’s game against No. 8 Texas at 5 p.m. Sunday. Billed as the team’s “StarkVegas Night,” fans are encouraged to wear black as the Bulldogs push to pack Humphrey Coliseum with 10,000 fans. Doors to the Hump will open at 3:30 p.m. Season ticket holders will be able to avoid long lines by entering through the east or west side of Mize Pavilion. Tickets for the game are $5 for adults, and MSU students are admitted free with a valid MSU ID. Admission is also free for high school age students age 18 and under, and those tickets can be picked up at the coliseum box office when doors open on game day. Fans can purchase and print their $5 tickets at home via hailstate.com/tickets to avoid long lines. Every fan must have a ticket to enter. All bags will be subject to search for games at Humphrey Coliseum this season. Backpacks, large carry bags, outside food or drink, smoking and weapons of any kind are prohibited. The first 5,000 in attendance will get a free StarkVegas rally towel, and fans can register at the marketing tables on the concourse to win a chance to shoot for $10,000. Bully’s Kidz Kourt opens in Mize Pavilion at 3:30 p.m. and closes at tipoff. It features inflatable games, pictures with MSU cheerleaders and Bully and more.

Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor

Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.