Ball State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Takes On Valparaiso Sunday
December 08, 2006 | Women's Basketball
The Cardinals continue their seven-game road stand in the month of December as they travel to Fort Wayne to take part in the second annual Hoopla: Celebrating Women in Basketball. Ball State will face off against instate rival Valparaiso in the first game on the Hoopla while host IPFW plays Indiana in game two on Sunday
The Cardinals enter the contest with a 5-1 mark as they are coming off of their first lost of the season. Valparaiso brings in a 4-3 mark on the year and have been idle since the Hoosier Classic on December 2.
Series History vs. Valpo . . .
Today's meeting is the 12th meeting all-time between the Cardinals and Crusaders. Ball State owns a 5-4 advantage in the all-time series but have dropped the last four meetings. The Cardinals have not defeated the Crusaders since the 1989-90 season and head coach Tracy Roller is 0-3 against her former employer.
2005-06
Valpo 61, Ball State 49 (H)
2002-03
Valpo 88, Ball State 82 (N)
2001-02
Valpo 77, Ball State 69 (H)
1990-91
Valpo 89, Ball State 81 (H)
1989-90
Ball State 85, Valpo 44 (A)
1986-87
Ball State 66, Valpo 48 (N)
1976-77
Ball State 90 (H), Valpo 34
1975-76
Ball State 98, Valpo 48 (H)
1974-75
Ball State 90 (H), Valpo 40
Last Season vs. Valpo . . .
The Cardinals had their season-opening five-game winning streak snapped last season as they dropped a 61-49 contest to Valparaiso. The Cardinals fell behind by nine points in the first have in the Hoosier Classic and couldn't rally in the second half.
The Cardinals were held to just 18-of-57 (31.6%) shooting from the field and just three-of-20 (15%) from three-point land. Valparaiso finished 23-of-57 (40.4%) from the field in the victory.
Julie DeMuth paced the Cardinals as she recorded a double-double with a team-high 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Guard Tina Bolte added 13 points in the loss as she connected on three-of-11 from three-point land.
Last Time Out . . .
The Cardinals saw their season-opening five-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday night as they dropped an 82-72 contest at Illinois State. Ball State trailed by 21 points at the half before making a valiant comeback attempt as it pulled within three points in the final minute of action.
The Cardinals shot just 28.6 percent from the field in the first half but came on strong in the second half as they connected on 54.3 percent of their shots. Ball State scored 51 points in the second half in its furious rally.
Junior Julie DeMuth willed the Cardinals back into contention with a career night. She scored a career-high 28 points as she connected on 10-of-24 from the field. She tallied her second double-double of the season and 15th of her career as she grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds, nine of which came on the offensive end.
Sophomore guard Porchia Green continued her solid all-around play as she scored 11 points, all coming in the second half rally. She added three rebounds, three assists and tied a career-high with five rebounds.
Freshman guard Audrey McDonald was the third Cardinal in double figures as she chipped in 11 points on the strength of three second half three-pointers.
Scouting the Cardinals . . .
The Cardinals enter today's game with a 5-1 record. Ball State is averaging 78.5 points per game on offense and is holding opponents to just 63.7 points per contest. The Cardinals are shooting 48.3 percent from the field and holding opponents to just 40 percent shooting from the field.
The Cardinals use a balanced scoring attack as nine different players average at least 4.5 points per game.
Junior Julie DeMuth leads the team in scoring at 17.3 points per game and in rebounding at 9.5 boards per contest. Junior Lisa Rusche is second on the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game and in rebounding at 7.3 rebounds per contest.
Senior guard Kelsey Corbin and freshman Audrey McDonald round out the Cardinals' quartet of double figure scorers as Corbin averages 10.3 points while McDonald adds 10 points per game.
Sophomore guard Porchia Green has boasted stellar all-around play this season as she is averaging 9.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, four assists and 3.5 steals per game.
Scouting the Crusaders . . .
Valparaiso comes into today's game with a 4-3 record on the year as it has been off since the Hoosier Classic on December 2. The Crusaders dropped an 83-71 contest to Indiana State in their last meeting. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Crusaders.
Valparaiso is averaging 62.6 points per game on the season while opponents are scoring 69.1 points per game. The Crusaders are shooting 38.6 percent from the field overall and 38.5 percent from three-point land.
The Crusaders have four players averaging over eight points per game with Betsy Rietema leading the way at 14.4 points per contest. She also is second on the team in rebounding at 6.3 boards per game. Center Tamra Braun is second on the team in scoring at 9.9 points per game and leads the team in rebounding at 7.6 rebounds per contest.
Rusche's Romp . . .
Junior forward Lisa Rusche turned in a stellar performance last weekend at the Hoosier Classic against Butler as she scored a career-high 36 points. Rusche's 36 points are the fourth most points scored all-time by a Cardinal in a game and the most since Tamara Bowie notched a program-best 40 points in 2002.
Rusche, whose previous career-high was 13 points, surpassed her old career-high just 12 minutes into the game on her way to 19 first half points. She connected on 15-of-23 from the field in the BSU victory and was six-of-eight from the charity stripe. She also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for her second career double-double. She also dished out two assists, registered a block and a steal in just 30 minutes of action.
High-Flying Cardinals . . .
The Cardinals' offensive attack has been in high gear so far this season as BSU is averaging 78.5 points per game. The 78.5 points per game average is on pace for the third highest per game average in a single season at BSU. The 2000-01 Cardinals posted an 82.6 point per game average to lead the way in program history.
82.6 ppg - 2000-01
79.8 ppg - 2002-03
78.5 ppg - 2006-07
78.0 ppg - 2001-02
The Cardinals have also scored 90-plus points on two different occasions so far this season (92 vs. Howard; 97 at Butler). This marks the first time that the Cardinals have scored over 90 points in two games in a season since 2002-03.
Fast Starts . . .
The Cardinals opened the season in history-making fashion as they won their first five games on the year. The 5-0 start tied the best start in school history as the Cardinals have posted that opening record over the past two seasons. Ball State's win over Butler moved them to 5-0 and topped BSU's 4-0 start in the 1999-2000 campaign.
5-0 - 2006-07
5-0 - 2005-06
4-0 - 1999-2000
3-0 - 1975-76
Cardinals In NCAA Stats . . .
Ball State's name is littered throughout the NCAA statistical rankings in the early part of the season as the Cardinals are in the top 32 in seven different team categories at the beginning of the week. Ball State is tied for first in winning percentage (1.000), is 10th in field goal percentage (49.6), is 16th in scoring offense (79.8), is 19th in scoring margin (+19.8), is 26th in assists per game (17.4), is 28th in three-point field goal percentage (39.0) and is 32nd in three-point field goals made per game (6.4). BSU also ranks 47th in steals per game (11.2).
Individually speaking, freshman guard Audrey McDonald is 19th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage at 50 percent. Sophomore Porchia Green is 35th in steals per game (3.2) while forward Lisa Rusche is 61st in the nation in field goal percentage (54.2).
RPI Watching . . .
The Cardinals, off to a 5-1 start, are making some noise this year in the early RPI rankings. Ball State enters today's game ranked as high as 54th in the RPI by the Sagarin Report. BSU is also listed 65th by RealtimeRPI.com and 99th by CollegeRPI.com. The first NCAA RPI release is not sent out until February of each season.
Road Warriors . . .
The Cardinals are in the midst of playing seven straight games away from Worthen Arena. In fact, BSU will not play at home at all during the month of December. This marks the first season since 1994-95 that the Cardinals have not had a home game in the month of December.
Double-Trouble . . .
Junior Julie DeMuth led the Mid-American Conference in double-doubles last season as she posted 10 double dips as a sophomore. DeMuth posted her first double-double of the 2006-07 season against Wright State as she scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. She recorded her second double dip of the season on Wednesday night as she scored 28 points and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds.
She moved into sole possession of third place all-time in career double-doubles at Ball State on Wednesday as she surpassed former BSU standout Kate Endress.
Below is a list of the all-time double-doubles in BSU history:
Emma Jones - 49
Tamara Bowie - 31
Julie DeMuth - 15
Kate Endress - 14
Countdown to 100 . . .
Head coach Tracy Roller is in her sixth season as the helm of the Cardinals and brings a 96-60 record into today's game. She is already the all-time winningest coach in BSU women's basketball history. She needs just four wins to become just the third basketball coach as Ball State, men's or women's, to reach 100 career victories with the Cardinals.
Roller moved into sole possession of fourth all-time in both men's and women's basketball at Ball State as she past former BSU men's coach Tim Buckley. She needs just one victories to move into a tie with Dick Hunsaker for third all-time in career victories.
Jim Hinga (1954-68)
154-169
Ray McCallum (1993-2000)
126-76
Dick Hunsaker (1989-93)
97-34
Tracy Roller (2001-present)
96-59
Tim Buckley (2000-06)
93-87
Owning the Glass . . .
Junior guard Julie DeMuth led the Cardinals and the Mid-American Conference in rebounding last season with 249 boards. DeMuth became just the fourth Cardinal all-time to lead the MAC in rebounding joining the likes of Jessica Reiter (2004-05), Christy Jones (1999-00) and Karen Bauer (1981-82). DeMuth's 249 rebounds were the eighth most in a single season at BSU.
She became just the 14th player in Ball State history to reach the 500-career rebound plateau with her 16-board effort against Illinois State. She currently sits in 12th place all-time in career rebounds with 515 as she surpasses Amy Zercher and Lisa Hicks this past week.
9th - Shelley Silk (618)
10th - Alana Hancock (586)
11th - Glena Rusch (540)
12th - Julie DeMuth (515)
13th - Lisa Hicks (501)
14th - Amy Zercher (500)
15th - Dianne McConnell (475)
It's Trey Day . . .
Senior Tina Bolte led the Cardinals last season with 67 three-pointers made on the year. Her 67 three-pointers were the fifth most in a single season at BSU and she enters today's game tied for fourth all-time in career-three-pointers made with 139. She moved into a tie for fourth with Alana Hancock on Saturday with a three-pointer against Butler.
She needs just 13 three-pointers to move into the top three long-range shooters all-time at Ball State.
1st - Johna Goff (253)
2nd - Kate Endress (205)
3rd - Markita Griffin (152)
t-4th - Tina Bolte (139)
t-4th - Alana Hancock (139)
Lending a Helping Hand . . .
Senior guard Kelsey Corbin led the team in assists last year as she dished out 115 helpers. She became just the seventh player all-time to reach 300 career assists earlier this season as she moved into sixth place all-time in career helpers on Saturday and now sits at 308.
3rd - Johna Goff (447)
4th - Stephanie McQuinne (364)
5th - Jane Emkes (346)
6th - Kelsey Corbin (308)
7th - Alana Hancock (302)
8th - Michelle Baker (298)
Non-Conference Success . . .
The Cardinals are 5-1 so far this season in their non-conference schedule after posting an 7-4 mark in non-conference play last season. Ball State has five more non-conference games on the docket this season including today's game against Valparaiso.
The Cardinals posted their best non-conference record of 8-3 on two different occasions (2001-02 & 2000-01)
8-3 - 2001-02 & 2000-01
7-3 - 1989-90
8-4 - 2002-3
7-4 - 2005-06 & 1999-2000
History in the Making . . .
One game into the season and the Cardinals have already made some history. For the first time in program history, BSU had two true freshmen score in double figures in their collegiate debuts when Audrey McDonald and Kalynne Proctor recorded the feat against Michigan on Monday night. McDonald scored 14 points while Proctor added 10 points. They are the first set of freshmen to reach double figures in the first career game in the 33-year history of Cardinal women's basketball.
Corbin Honored . . .
Senior guard Kelsey Corbin picked up Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week honors on Wednesday afternoon for her efforts against Michigan. The weekly honor is the first of her career for Corbin and she becomes the first Cardinal to win the award since Julie DeMuth took home the accolades last December.
Corbin led all scorers against the Wolverines with 16 points to guide the Cardinals to a four-point victory at Ann Arbor, Mich.
Preseason Prognosticators . . .
Ball State was picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference West Division in the preseason poll conducted by league coaches and members of the MAC News Media Association.
Ball State received 157 total votes including six first place votes in the West Division as four different teams garnered first place tallies. Defending divisional champion Easter Michigan was picked to finish first in the West with 241 total votes and 21 first place votes while Western Michigan was tabbed for second with 188 votes and eight first place picks. Northern Illinois, Toledo and Central Michigan round out the preseason poll for the West Division.
Defending MAC Champion and NCAA Tournament participant Bowling Green was picked to repeat in the East Division with 245 total votes and 40 first place votes. Kent State was tabbed for second while Miami, Ohio, Buffalo and Akron round out the East Division predictions.
Radio Air Time . . .
The Cardinals will again have most of their games broadcast on the student station WCRD 91.3, including both exhibition games. All games broadcast by WCRD will also be streamed online at www.ballstatesports.com. Kyle Trompeter, Karl Mandik and Joel Nickels will do the honors for WCRD.
Ball State will also have 13 regular season games broadcast on Muncie's WXFN 1340 AM this season and two games broadcast on WERK 104.9 FM. Jay Garrison will handle the play-by-play duties this season. The 15 games broadcast on WXFN are:
Nov. 18 - Wright State
Nov. 25 - Howard
Nov. 26 - BSU Credit Union
Dec. 2 at Butler
Dec. 10 vs. Valparaiso *
Dec. 18 at Indiana *
Jan. 3 - Toledo
Jan. 6 - Western Michigan
Jan. 17 - Northern Illinois
Jan. 20 - Miami
Jan. 27 - Ohio
Feb. 11 - Kent State
Feb. 17 at Western Michigan
Feb. 21 - Central Michigan
Feb. 24 - Eastern Michigan
MAC TOURNAMENT
* - WERK 104.9 FM
Tracy Roller Show . . .
Head coach Tracy Roller will once again be on the air this season on WCRD and on www.ballstatesports.com with the Tracy Roller Show. The show will air on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. starting in December and will air live from Johnny Carino's on McGalliard.
Corbin's Corner . . .
Cardinal fans can get an inside look at the BSU women's basketball team this season from Corbin's Corner. Senior guard Kelsey Corbin has been keeping an online journal through the entire preseason and will continue throughout her senior campaign on www.ballstatesports.com. Check out the weekly journal that updates each Friday afternoon.
Cardinal Schedule . . .
Ball State has a challenging 27-game schedule for the upcoming 2006-07 season. The schedule includes non-conference games against teams from the Big Ten, Horizon League and Conference USA as well as the Mid-Eastern, Independent, Big South, Missouri Valley, Metro-Atlantic and Atlantic 10 conferences. The Cardinals will also have a 16-game Mid-American Conference schedule this season.
The slate includes games against six teams that advanced to the postseason in 2006, including NCAA Tournament teams Tulsa and Bowling Green as well as WNIT participants Indiana, Xavier, Charlotte and Eastern Michigan. The Cardinals will also face nine teams that finished last season with an RPI of 150 or better, including seven against teams rated in the top 100 in RPI.
Looking Ahead . . .
The Cardinals will be off until Monday, December 18 because of finals at Ball State. The Cardinals will get back into action on the 18th as they travel to Bloomington to take on instate rival Indiana at 7 p.m.
