Ball State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Announces 2006-07 Schedule
September 12, 2006 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State women's basketball head coach Tracy Roller has announced 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
"This is a really tough schedule for our team, but we are ready for the challenge and are excited the opportunity that is ahead of us," Roller said. "This is a year that we have to keep our eye on the prize and know that every game counts."
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.
"We are returning a large amount of our players from last year and I feel that we are ready for the challenge that this schedule presents," Roller said. "I want to see how our team steps up to the plate with this schedule, and our non-conference competition should help prepare us for the always difficult MAC schedule."
The Cardinals will open the regular season on the road as they travel to Ann Arbor, Mich. to take on Big Ten foe Michigan November 13. Ball State opens its 11-game home schedule the following week as the Cardinals host Wright State on Nov. 18.
The Cardinals will continue their home stand by hosting the second annual Ball State Federal Credit Union Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 25-26. The Cardinals host Howard in the first game while IPFW and Coastal Carolina will meet in the second game. The championship/consolation games will be held on the second day of the tournament at Worthen Arena.
Ball State will become road-tested during the month of December as it plays seven straight games away Worthen Arena. The road stretch gets underway on Dec. 2 as BSU takes on Butler as part of the Hoosier Classic.
After a date at Illinois State, the Cardinals will face off against Valparaiso in Fort Wayne as part of Hoosier Hoopla on Dec. 10.
The Cardinals close out December with a stretch of four games against three postseason teams, starting with showdowns at Indiana and at Xavier prior to the holiday break. Ball State will wrap up the 2006 calendar year in "The Big Apple" as it travels to the St. Peter's Holiday Classic. The Cardinals are set to take on host St. Peter's on day one of the Classic and will face either Tulsa or Charlotte in the championship/consolation game on the second day.
The Cardinals will kick off the New Year by opening up their 16-game Mid-American Conference schedule on Jan. 3 at home against Toledo. The Cardinals host five of their first eight MAC games at Worthen Arena in January including games against Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, Miami and Ohio.
"This year is going to be a great year for the MAC and our sights are to be right there at the top of the mix," Roller said. "The conference as a whole is improving each year and this is a year that the MAC can be in position to have multiple berths into the NCAA Tournament and into the postseason in general."
The month of February will again see the Cardinals become road warriors with four of their first five games away from home, including a road game at MAC Tournament Champion Bowling Green. The Cardinals will round out the 2006-07 regular season with a pair of home games against Central and Eastern Michigan before closing out the year at Northern Illinois on Feb. 28.
"This schedule is tough because we are on the road so much in the month of December and again in February," Roller said. "We are up to the challenge in front of us and this will only make us more battle-tested when it comes to the MAC Tournament."
The 2007 Mid-American Conference Tournament will be held in Cleveland, Ohio at the Quicken Loans Arena. A new format is in place this season as all games in the tournament will be played in Cleveland.
The Cardinals will also host a pair of exhibition games at Worthen Arena prior to the regular season. Ball State will welcome in the Ohio Girls Report on Nov. 1 and the Hoosier Stars on Nov. 9.
2006-07 BallState Women's Basketball Schedule
Nov. 1 Ohio Girls Report (Exhibition), Muncie, Ind., 7 p.m.
Nov. 9 Hoosier Stars (Exhibition), Muncie, Ind., 8 p.m.
Nov. 13 at Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. 7 p.m.
Nov. 18 Wright State, Muncie, Ind. 3 p.m.
Nov. 25 Howard #, Muncie, Ind., 1p.m.
Nov. 25 IPFW vs. Coastal Carolina #, Muncie, Ind., 3 p.m.
Nov. 26 Consolation Game #, Muncie, Ind., 1p.m.
Nov. 26 Championship Game #, Muncie, Ind., 3p.m.
Dec. 2 at Butler $, Indianapolis, Ind., 1 p.m.
Dec. 6 at Illinois State, Normal, Ill., 7:05 p.m.
Dec. 10 vs. Valparaiso %, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1 p.m.
Dec. 18 at Indiana, Bloomington, Ind., 7 p.m.
Dec. 22 at Xavier, Cincinnati, Ohio, 7 p.m.
Dec. 29 at St. Peter's &, Jersey City, N.J., 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 29 Charlotte vs. Tulsa &, Jersey City, N.J., 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 30 Consolation Game &, Jersey City, N.J., 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 30 Championship Game &, Jersey City, N.J.7:30 p.m.
Jan. 3 Toledo *, Muncie, Ind., 7 p.m.
Jan. 6 Western Michigan *, Muncie, Ind., 4 p.m.
Jan. 10 at Central Michigan *, Mount Pleasant, Mich., 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 at Eastern Michigan *, Ypsilanti, Mich., 7 p.m.
Jan. 17 Northern Illinois * , Muncie, Ind., 7 p.m.
Jan. 20 Miami *, Muncie, Ind., 3 p.m.
Jan. 23 at Akron *, Akron, Ohio, TBA
Jan. 27 Ohio *, Muncie, Ind., 1 p.m.
Feb. 3 at Buffalo *, Buffalo, N.Y., TBA
Feb. 7 at Bowling Green *, Bowling Green, , 7 p.m.
Feb. 11 Kent State *, Muncie, Ind., 3 p.m.
Feb. 14 at Toledo *, Toledo, Ohio, 7 p.m.
Feb. 17 at Western Michigan *, Kalamazoo, Mich., TBA
Feb. 21 Central Michigan *, Muncie, Ind., 7 p.m.
Feb. 24 Eastern Michigan *, Muncie, Ind., 1 p.m.
Feb. 28 at Northern Illinois *, DeKalb, Ill., TBA
TBA Mid-American Conference Tournament First Round, Cleveland, Ohio
March 6 Mid-American Conference Tournament Quarterfinals, Cleveland, Ohio
March 9 Mid-American Conference Tournament Semi-finals, Cleveland, Ohio
March 10 Mid-American Conference Tournament Finals, Cleveland, Ohio
# - Ball State Federal Credit Union Thanksgiving Tournament
$ - Hoosier Classic hosted by Butler
% - Hoosier Hoopla hosted by IPFW
$ - St. Peter's Holiday Classic
* - Mid-American Conference game
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