Ball State University Athletics
Nine Back to Bolster Women's Basketball's 2005-06 Team
October 19, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Nine letterwinners, including five players with starting experience return to fifth-year head coach Tracy Roller's 2005-06 Ball State squad. Pretty substantial numbers, yet she must invariably deal with the looming question of how she will replace graduated Kate Endress.
The 2005 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and two-time member of the All-MAC First Team ended her career as one of the most decorated players in program history. Endress averaged over 15 points during her career and nearly 20 in her senior campaign when she was honored as Indiana's NCAA Woman of the Year.
"We can replace the scoring, the rebounding and the winning factor," Roller says. "It's the leadership that we will have a hard time matching. That was special and Kate had a great way about her. We were blessed to have her in our program for four years."
Still, how do you go about replacing those qualities and those numbers?
The numbers may be made up by the fact that Roller believes this year's team is one of the most athletic she has had at BSU. As for the leadership, there are plenty of people waiting in line.
"Since last spring, we have been trying to find one or two players who are ready to step up and be the type of leader Kate was. Playing with Kate was a great opportunity for our players to learn how to be a leader. I think we have about four or five people who can lead this team and take on the responsibility. Our task at hand is to replace Kate by committee."
The committee will come from nine returning players and a group of four newcomers. The 2005-06 team is comprised of seven upperclassmen, six of whom have played substantial minutes over their careers.
Center Raechelle Hampton returns as Ball State's only senior eligibility-wise. Hampton posted career-high marks in scoring (7.0) and rebounding (4.8) last season -- her first in a full-time capacity.
"Raechelle has had some inconsistencies over the course of her career, which do not seem to be apparent this year. She is working very hard and I believe she wants to leave a legacy."
The talented group of five returning juniors includes full-time starters Tina Bolte and Kelsey Corbin -- both guards. Center Becca Bajorek is back after being in the Cardinals' starting lineup 17 times a year ago. Rounding out the class is guard Erica Cotton and forward Krista Stewart.
Bolte started all 29 games a year ago and, because of injury to another player, moved into the point guard position early on. She ended the campaign with the second-highest scoring average on the squad at 11.2 points per game.
"Tina is definitely my first choice of a person who has the ability to replace the scoring we lost with Kate's departure. I see a new sense of urgency from her this season. She has the desire to take this team to a level it has never been."
A starter in 11 games as a freshmen, Corbin moved into a full-time role as a sophomore. She led BSU with nearly four assists per game in 2004-05 plus added 8.3 points while pulling down 4.6 rebounds each contest. In addition, she served as a tri-captain on last year's team.
"Kelsey is so versatile. She might play point guard more than in the past. She has worked on a lot of weaknesses. Her work ethic and credibility make her a great team leader."
Bajorek split starting duties last season in the front court, where she led the team in blocked shots plus posted career-high marks in scoring (6.4) and rebounding (4.8).
"I have a lot of respect for Becca, because she really took one for the team last year in being a great role player. She did whatever she could to help us. Becca has matured both on and off the court and will be a good leader for us in the post."
Cotton was hampered much of last season recovering from an injury, which forced her to miss the entire 2003-04 season. She did play in 27 games and matched or bettered seven career marks.
"Erica is athletically the best player on the team. She has not had a season which has been free of injury. When that happens, she will be a potential starter."
Stewart saw action in all 29 contests a year ago, when she managed career-high marks with 4.5 points and 3.1 rebounds a game.
"Krista is our most consistent 3-point shooter. She has been in the program long enough to understand what is expected of her and I expect to see her become an even more important part of the lineup."
A talented sophomore class also returns topped by starter Julie DeMuth, who landed a spot on the MAC's All-Freshman Team last year. Forwards Brandy Ross and Lisa Rusche are also back.
A guard, DeMuth started 17 games for BSU last season. She launched her collegiate career by totaling 21 points and 12 rebounds in the opener versus Wagner on the way to earning all-tournament honors at the Seton Hall Classic. DeMuth topped the team with 7.2 rebounds a game plus added 7.4 points per outing.
"Julie keeps getting better every day. She brings something to every possession and is one of those kids you just have to have on the court with her effort and mentality."
Ross and Rusche both saw limited playing time a year ago, but Roller expects their minutes to increase this season.
"Brandy is by far our most improved player in every aspect -- physically, emotionally and mentally. She will press people for playing time.
"Lisa is a diamond in the rough. If she ever gets rid of the rough, she is going to be an amazing player to watch."
The list of newcomers includes three freshman -- guards Porchia Green and Kiley Jarrett plus guard/forward Dana Moorman -- and one junior college transfer in guard Stephanie Douglas. She comes to BSU after playing last season at Meridian Community College in Meridian, Miss.
"The one word I would use to describe our newcomers as a whole is athletic. They have raised the bar with their athleticism. They are all really fun to watch and have a high understanding of the game. Each person has learned and adapted to our system very quickly.
"The experience of playing in college is a huge advantage for Stephanie. She can score in so many different ways. Kiley is a true point guard and has great leadership qualities for a freshman. She knows what it takes to win. Porchia is another point guard. She is long, lanky and a great defender. She can get to the rim off the dribble better than almost anyone. Dana is so versatile. She can play either the three or four. She knows how to win and brings that mentality with her to Ball State."
Ball State's 2005 non-conference schedule includes a different look as far as opponents and as far as home dates. In direct contrast to the last several seasons, the Cardinals will enjoy the friendly confines of Worthen Arena in five of their first six games -- seven including a pair of exhibition games. In previous years, BSU found itself on the road for most of the first portion of their non-conference schedule.
After opening the season Nov. 19 at Murray State, Ball State returns home to host five-straight games beginning with Evansville Nov. 22. The Cardinals welcome new opponents Lipscomb, North Dakota State and Georgetown to the Ball State Credit Union Classic Nov. 26-27. The event marks the first home tournament for the program in 16 years.
After entertaining Illinois State Nov. 30, Worthen Arena will be the site of the Hoosier State Classic Dec. 4, where the Cardinals will meet Valparaiso. Butler and Indiana State will match up in the other contest.
The remainder of the non-conference slate includes trips to Butler, Wright State, Duke and a trip to California to face two more new opponents -- Saint Mary's College and Santa Clara.
"Our non-conference schedule is very, very competitive. We are really excited to have so many home games and to have them earlier than usual. The schedule is loaded with good teams starting with Duke, which finished No. 8 in the nation last year. Illinois State was an NCAA Tournament teamand Valparaiso is always a tough match for us. Butler has made great improvements in its program and both California teams will provide a strong test for us. Our immediate goal is to win our own tournament, which will be no easy task with the likes of Lipscomb, Georgetown and an up-and-coming (to NCAA Division I) North Dakota State. With four newcomers on our team, having so many home games so early is important."
The Cardinals will launch their 2006 Mid-American Conference ledger on the road Jan. 7 at Toledo. With the departure of Marshall to Conference USA, the new conference structure includes six teams in each division. Each team will play a double round robin within its respective division plus meet each team in the opposite division once.
The tournament format will be slightly restructured as well. The top two teams in each division will receive first-round byes. The remaining teams will be seeded third through sixth in each division and will match up against cross division opponents -- No. 3 West vs. No. 6 East, No. 3 East vs. No. 6 West, etc.
"I am really excited about the make up of the Mid-American Conference this year with six teams in each division. When everyone plays each other twice in each division and once each in the opposite, it gives a truer depiction of the divisional and overall champions."
Even though 2005 MAC regular-season and tournament champion Bowling Green, which moved to the East Division, will likely be pegged as the favorite, several teams return key players and Roller sees a great deal of parity.
"Bowling Green is really hard to match up against. Besides that, they have the experience of having been there -- winning it all and going to the NCAA's. Miami will be good again and Kent State, under Bob Lindsay, is always competitive. Beyond that, there are about four more teams capable of winning the overall title and I believe Ball State is certainly one of them.
"The West Division is really a toss-up. Western Michigan has a leg up with Casey Rost and Maria Jillian returning. Eastern Michigan has the -- in my opinion -- MAC Player of the Year in Ryan Coleman. Both Toledo and us have a lot of question marks, but return large numbers. Central Michigan is much improved and Northern Illinois is a bit of an unknown with a new coach.
"I just see the MAC as a better conference. We are all playing better non-conference schedules, there's stability in the coaching staffs and those staffs are all doing a better job of recruiting. All of those factors have helped our league and they all make the conference a much better, more competitive one to play in."
The question once again arises as to just how Ball State will put itself into a position to vie for a championship.
"I feel like we have five starters returning. It's nice to lose a player of Kate's caliber and still have five starters back. We have a great group, which is by far the most athletic one I've had here. We don't have a star -- someone who is going to step up and take every shot. Instead we have a team and it's much harder to defend a ‘go-to team' than a ‘go-to player'. Our team is more of a fluid entity, because they know each other so well. That is a hard quality to beat."
