Ball State University Athletics
2005-06 Preseason Prospectus
August 29, 2005 | Women's Basketball
2005-06 WBB Prospectus
Ball State fifth-year head coach Tracy Roller's biggest challenge as she embarks upon the 2005-06 campaign is filling the void created by the graduation of 2005 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Kate Endress, whose 18.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game will be noticeably absent. Roller's ability to undertake the challenge will be enhanced by the return of nine letterwinners -- five with starting experience.
Junior guard Tina Bolte is the team's top returning scorer after managing a career-high 11.2 points per game in 29 starts a year ago. Four more players -- all of whom started at least half of the Cardinals' 29 games last year -- are back after averaging at least six points or better each.
Junior guard Kelsey Corbin brings back an 8.3 scoring average plus a team-best 3.7 assists average in 29 starts a year ago.
A member of the 2004-05 MAC All-Freshman Team, guard Julie DeMuth returns after leading BSU with 7.2 rebounds plus placing fourth with a 7.4 scoring average last season.
Senior center Raechelle Hampton returns for her final campaign. A starter in 24 games, she tallied a career-high 7.0 points and a career-best 4.8 rebounds each game in 2004-05.
Junior center Becca Bajorek rounds out the list of returning starters. She managed career-high marks in points -- 6.4 a game -- and rebounds -- 4.8 per outing -- in 17 starts a year ago.
Four additional letterwinners return to this year's team -- junior forward Krista Stewart, junior guard Erica Cotton and sophomore forwards Brandy Ross and Lisa Rusche. Stewart and Cotton are both seniors academically.
A group of four newcomers is prepared to make an impact on the 2005-06 Cardinals squad -- junior Stephanie Douglas, a transfer from Meridian Community College in Meridian, Miss., and freshmen Porcia Green, Kiley Jarrett and Dana Moorman. Douglas, Green and Jarrett will vie for spots in Ball State's back court, while Moorman will challenge for a position in the front court.
In direct contrast to the last several seasons when the Cardinals have spent much of their non-conference season on the road -- particularly in the beginning, Ball State will enjoy the friendly confines of Worthen Arena in five of their first six games. Two more exhibition games gives BSU a home court advantage in seven contests over the first 33 days of competition.
Besides being home to this year's Hoosier State Classic along with Butler, Indiana State and opponent Valparaiso, BSU will host its first non-conference tournament in 16 years when it welcomes Georgetown, Lipscomb and North Dakota State to Muncie for the Ball State Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 26-27. BSU will meet Lipscomb in first-round action Nov. 26. The championship tilt will follow the consolation matchup a day later.
The remainder of BSU's non-conference schedule includes home games with Evansville and Illinois State plus road games at Butler, Wright State, Duke, St. Mary's College (Calif.) and Santa Clara. Duke finished last season ranked No. 8 in the final ESPN/USA Today NCAA Poll.
The 16-game MAC schedule opens in January with the MAC Tournament slated, once again, for Cleveland, Ohio.
