They are acts that take place at opposite ends of the floor, but they both require a similar ingredient for success.
When is The Master's University women's basketball team's defense at its best?
"When we're being aggressive, not hesitating or sitting back," said forward Anika Neuman. "Not overthinking."
And the offense?
"When we share the ball and everyone shoots their shots with confidence," guard Hannah Ostrom said, "that's when we are at our best."
The Mustangs spent some of the week leading up to Wednesday's first round NAIA Division 1 matchup with the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (3 p.m.) reinforcing an identity that led to an already historic season.
Master's (26-6) won the first Golden State Athletic Conference regular season title in program history on the strength of an aggressive, smothering zone defense and an offense structured around strong post play and confident outside shooters.
Senior Jamilee Iddings said after Saturday's practice inside The MacArthur Center that she felt the team hadn't been true to itself in recent games, the last of which ending in a loss to Westmont in the GSAC tournament title game on March 2.
Iddings saw a return to TMU's winning formula in the days leading up to Monday's flight to Billings, Montana, for the tournament.
"I think we're starting to click again and figuring out our identity," she said. "I think we're going to stick to that this time."
They'll likely have to. Science and Arts (21-11), a No. 7 seed, presents myriad challenges for the No. 2-seeded Mustangs.
The Drovers, who finished third in the Sooner Athletic Conference behind top-10 ranked teams Oklahoma City University and Wayland Baptist, are "talented, long and athletic," Waldeck said.
"They played a schedule that's prepared them for the national tournament," said Waldeck, who Tuesday was named a finalist for WBCA NAIA Coach of the Year. "We'll need to play with identity and toughness. I believe our preparation this past week has been strong, so we're looking forward to the challenge."
The Mustangs will look to counter the Drovers' length with crisp, sharp passing as they move the ball against one of the nation's best defenses.
Science and Arts has allowed 57.2 points per game, 12th fewest in the country, behind the leadership of Reyna Ammons, the Sooner Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
The Drovers also feature the SAC's Player of the Year, 6-foot-1 senior Vivian Holcomb.
Holcomb is among the country's best rebounders; she leads Science and Arts in scoring at 16.4 points per game; and she averages nearly three assists a night.
"She's really crafty," said Iddings. "She's like a point guard post."
Said Waldeck, "We've played a lot of good posts this year, and she might be the best passer that we've competed against. She's physical, tough and unselfish. Then they complement her with some amazing perimeter defenders who can get out in transition and create their own shots."
The Mustangs, for their part, boast the nation's third ranked scoring defense (50.8 ppg), and guard Brooke Bailey said the key will be keeping the Drovers from getting to their favorite spots on the floor.
"With their strength being in the inside and high post, our biggest challenge is not allowing an a opportunity for them to see the ball go in from that area of the floor," Bailey said.
The NAIA will stream every game of the tournament live at NAIA.org. Single game passes cost $9.95.
The winner of Wednesday's game will play the winner of MidAmerica Nazarene (KS) and Xavier (LA) on Friday at 11:30 a.m.
