Ball State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Battles Eastern Michigan Saturday
January 12, 2007 | Women's Basketball
What's On Tap . . .
The Cardinals continue their stretch of Michigan schools this evening as they take on Mid-American Conference West Division rival Eastern Michigan at the Convocation Center. The game is a battle of the two undefeated teams in MAC play in the West Division at 3-0.
The Cardinals enter the night with a 12-2 record overall and have won six straight games. Eastern Michigan, the preseason favorite to win the West Division, enters with an 8-6 overall record and has won its last three games heading into tonight.
The Cardinals and Eagles are two of just four teams left with undefeated MAC records and the only teams from the West Division (Bowling Green & Miami).
In Good Company . . .
The Cardinals enter the week in some select company as they are just one of five teams in the NCAA Division I to be ranked in the top 35 in field goal percentage, three-point percentage and free throw percentage. Ball State joins the likes of Maryland (17-0), Vanderbilt (14-2), Purdue (14-3), Middle Tennessee (12-3) and Wisconsin-Green Bay (11-3) to accomplish the trifecta.
The five teams in this selected group have a combined record of 65-11 so far this season, which is good for an 81.6 winning percentage.
Ball State is 14th in the nation in field goal percentage (47.2%), is 15th in three-point percentage (39%) and is 34th in free throw percentage (74.6%).
Fast Starts . . .
The Cardinals are off to their best start in program history after 14 games with a 12-2 overall record. The Cardinals surpassed the 1974-75 season for the best start with Wednesday night's victory.
The Cardinals have put together two winning streak of five or more games this season with their current six-game and their season-opening five-game winning streak. This marks the third time in program history that they have notched two winning streaks of at least five games in the same season (2004-05 & 2001-02).
The Cardinals are also 3-0 in MAC play for just the fourth time in program history and the first time since the 2002-03 season.
Series History . . .
Tonight's game is the 53rd meeting all-time between Ball State and Eastern Michigan. The Cardinals trail the all-time series by a 21-31 mark and have dropped seven straight games to the Eagles. The Cardinals last defeated EMU back in the 2002-03 season when Tamara Bowie hit a last second shot in Ypsilanti for a 66-65 victory.
Last season, the Cardinals dropped both games to the Eagles with 69-58 loss at EMU and a 66-59 loss at Worthen Arena.
In the game at EMU, the Cardinals fell behind early and couldn't overcome a 15-point halftime deficit. Raechelle Hampton led the attack with a team-high 16 points. Kelsey Corbin and Julie DeMuth each chipped in 10 points in the loss.
The Cardinals dropped the seven-point game at home to the Eagles as they shot just 39.6 percent from the field. DeMuth led the charge with a team-high 15 points but was the only player in double figures for the Cardinals.
Last Time Out . . .
The Cardinals picked up their first Mid-American Conference road victory of the year on Wednesday night as they took home a 73-65 overtime victory at Central Michigan. The Cardinals closed the second half on a 10-4 run to force overtime and outscored the Chippewas 13-5 in the extra period to secure the victory.
The Cardinals came out in the overtime period and took control of the game as they opened with an 8-2 run. Lisa Rusche gave the Cardinals the lead for good after winning the tip when converted a lay-up off an assists from Julie DeMuth.
After baskets from Kelsey Corbin and Porchia Green, DeMuth sealed the victory with five points in the overtime period, including an old-fashioned three-point play that put the Cardinals ahead by seven. Ball State connected on four-of-eight (50%) from the field and five-of-six (83.3%) from the charity stripe in the overtime to seal the victory.
Ball State's defense carried its momentum over from closed of second half into overtime. The Cardinals forced the Chippewas into just one-of-seven shooting (14.3%) from the field and into three turnovers in the extra frame.
Rusche led the Cardinals on the offensive end as she finished the night with 16 points on six-of-10 shooting from the field and four-of-five shooting from the charity stripe. Rusche also was key on the defensive end as she finished with eight rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals.
Green posted her third double-double of the season and second straight as she finished with 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Green connected on six-of-14 shooting from the field, including three three-pointers in the second half.
DeMuth also turned in a double dip as she finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the year. The two double-doubles in a single game is the first for the Cardinals this season and the first since December of 2005 when DeMuth and Raechelle Hampton accomplished the feat at Santa Clara.
Spreading It Around . . .
The Cardinals are one of just two Mid-American Conference teams that have four players averaging double figures this season as they are joined by Kent State with a quartet. This is the first time since the Valparaiso game that BSU does not have five players averaging double figures.
Winning Streaks . . .
The Cardinals have won six straight games heading into tonight's showdown at Eastern Michigan. The six-game winning streak is tied for the third longest winning streak in program history. The Cardinals won a record 11-straight games in the 2000-01 season and have won eight games in a row during the 2001-02 and 1974-75 seasons.
11 games
(2000-01)
Eight Games
(2001-02 & 1974-75)
Six Games
(2006-07, 2002-03, 1985-86)
Milestone Victory . . .
Two weeks ago, the Cardinals claimed an 82-72 victory over Charlotte in the championship game of the SPC Holiday Classic was a milestone victory for head coach Tracy Roller as it was her 100th career victory at the helm of the Cardinals. She becomes just the third coach, men's or women's, in Ball State history to reach 100 career victories as she joins Ray McCallum and Jim Hinga. Ironically, both Roller and McCallum both reached 100 victories in their 162nd game.
Roller, who already the all-time winningest women's coach in program history, brings a 103-61 record into tonight's contest with the Eagles in just her sixth season.
Assist Machine . . .
Senior guard Kelsey Corbin has been dishing out assists left and right through the first three games of MAC play this season. Corbin, who leads the team with 66 assists on the year, is averaging a league best 8.67 assists per game in conference games. She dished out 11 assists against Toledo, eight helpers against Western Michigan and seven assists at Central Michigan.
Scouting the Cardinals . . .
The Cardinals are 12-2 this season and are 3-0 in the MAC heading into tonight's game. Ball State has won six straight games as they are averaging 75 points per game and allowing just 63.7 points per game. The Cardinals are shooting 46.6 percent from the field this season and 38.2 percent from three-point land.
Junior Julie DeMuth leads the Cardinals in scoring at 15 points per game and rebounding at 8.5 boards per game. Classmate Lisa Rusche is second on the team in scoring at 11.6 points per game. She is third in rebounding at 6.5 per game and leads the team in blocked shots at 25.
Sophomore Porchia Green is tied for third on the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game. She is second in rebounding at 7.1, second in assists per game at 3.6 and leads the team in steals per game at 2.8. Senior guard Kelsey Corbin rounds out the double figure scorers as she averages 11.3 points per game and leads the team in assists with 4.7 per game.
Freshman guard Audrey McDonald averages 9.9 points per game this season as she has connected on a team-high 34-of-69 (49.3%) of her three-point shots.
Scouting the Eagles . . .
Eastern Michigan enters tonight's game with an 8-6 record overall and a 3-0 mark in MAC play. The Eagles have won 11 straight conference games dating back to last season.
EMU is averaging 71.2 points per game this season and is allowing 66.4 points per game. The Eagles are shooting 41.5 percent from the field on the year and 33.5 percent from three-point land.
Senior Sarah VanMetre leads the team in scoring at 18.6 points per game and in rebounding at 9.4 boards per game. Guard Patrice McKinney is second on the team in scoring at 14.4 points per game and rebounding at 8.1 per game.
Did You Know? . . .
The Cardinals are 9-1 this season when they score at least 70 points in a game. Ball State is also 11-1 when it holds opponents under the 70-point mark.
Television Exposure . . .
The Cardinals will have four MAC games televised this season, with two games as part of the MAC television package and two games on the Ball State Sports Network (BSSN).
The Cardinals will be on BSSN for the first time this season next Wednesday evening when they host MAC-West Division rival Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. Former BSU player Raechelle Hampton will provide color commentary, along with play-by-play from Wil Hampton.
The Cardinals return to the BSSN on Jan. 27 when they host Ohio at Worthen Arena at 1 p.m. Hampton will again provide play-by-play duties while former BSU standout Kate Endress will provide the color commentary.
Ball State, who has already appeared on Comcast Local once this season, will have back-to-back MAC games aired later this season. The Cardinals' Feb. 17 game at Western Michigan and the Feb. 21 game at home against Central Michigan will be seen on Comcast Local.
All four games will also be available through “Ball State All-Access” online at www.ballstatesports.com.
Welcome Back . . .
Freshman forward Kalynne Proctor returned to the floor for the first time since November when she came off the bench on Wednesday night. Proctor, who has missed the past 11 games with a knee injury, returned with a bang as she scored eight first half points for the Cardinals and grabbed three offensive rebounds.
Non-Conference Success . . .
The Cardinals posted a program-best 9-2 record in the non-conference season this year. The nine victories are the most in a single season since Ball State joined the Mid-American Conference.
The Cardinals previously posted their best non-conference record of 8-3 on two different occasions (2001-02 & 2000-01)
9-2 - 2006-07
8-3 - 2001-02 & 2000-01
7-3 - 1989-90
8-4 - 2002-3
7-4 - 2005-06 & 1999-2000
Cleaning the Glass . . .
The Cardinals enter tonight's game with a 9-0 record on the season when they out-rebound their opponent. Ball State though, is eighth in the Mid-American Conference in rebounding offense at 36.4 boards per game. The Cardinals have controlled the boards on the other end as they are second in the MAC in rebounding defense as they allow just 33.4 boards per game. BSU is third in the conference in rebounding margin at +3.1 boards per game.
Cardinals In NCAA Stats . . .
Ball State is listed in the top 50 in eight statistical team categories in NCAA Division I heading into the week. Leading the charge statistically, the Cardinals are 14th in the nation in field goal percentage (47.2) and 15th in three-point percentage (39.0).
Also, the Cardinals are 23rd in three-pointers made per game (6.7), are 25th in assists per game (16.9), are 26th in won/loss percentage (84.6), 32nd in scoring offense (75.2), 34th in free throw percentage (74.6) and 48th in scoring margin (+11.5)
Individually, freshman guard Audrey McDonald is second in the nation in three point field goal percentage at 53.1. She only trails Kaylynn Flager of Idaho State who sits at 55 percent (22-of-40). McDonald is also 26th in three-pointers made per game at 2.6.
Sophomore Porchia Green is 43rd in the nation in steals per game and is not eligible for three-point percentage due to limited attempts. Senior Kelsey Corbin is 67th in the nation in assists per game at 4.5 and junior Lisa Rusche is 78th in blocked shots per game at 1.6.
RPI Watching . . .
The Cardinals, off to a 12-2 start, are making some noise this year in the RPI rankings. Ball State enters the weekend ranked as high as 38th in the RPI by RealtimeRPI.com.
BSU is also listed 46th by the Sagarin Report, 50th by RPIRatings.com and 53rd by CollegeRPI.com. The first NCAA RPI release is not sent out until February of each season.
Midseason Tournaments . . .
The Cardinals have picked up two midseason tournament championships this season with the BSU Credit Union Classic and the SPC Holiday Classic. This is just the second season in which Ball State has secured two titles during the same year. The last time BSU accomplished the feat was in the 1999-2000 season.
MAC Stats . . .
Heading into tonight's game, the Cardinals have four players in the top 23 in scoring in the MAC with Julie DeMuth (8th), Lisa Rusche (19th), Kelsey Corbin (23rd) and Porchia Green (23rd). The Cardinals also have three players in the top 16 in rebounding with DeMuth (4th), Green (9th) and Rusche (16).
Freshman Audrey McDonald is first in the MAC in three-point shooting at 49.3 percent while Green is third at 44.2 percent. Three Cardinals are in the top eight in field goal percentage with Corbin (3rd), Rusche (5th) and Green (8th).
Career Nights . . .
So far this season, Ball State has posted some strong individual performances. The Cardinals have had five different players turn in a career-high scoring performance so far this season. Freshman Audrey McDonald posted a new high on Friday as she scored 19 points against St. Peter's while sophomore guard Porchia Green turned in a career-high 22 points Saturday against Charlotte.
Junior forward Lisa Rusche leads the way with her 36-point effort against Butler while classmate Julie DeMuth added 28-points at Illinois State.
Freshman Kalynne Proctor each opened their collegiate careers in prime style with 10 points.
Owning the Glass . . .
Junior guard Julie DeMuth leads the Cardinals and is third in the Mid-American Conference in rebounding this season at 8.5 rebounds per game.
She led the Cardinals and the MAC 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 sits in 11th place all-time in career rebounds with 577. She needs just nine rebounds to move into the top 10 all-time in rebounding.
7th - Jamie Lehotsky (642)
8th - Char Thomsen (630)
9th - Shelley Silk (618)
10th - Alana Hancock (586)
11th - Julie DeMuth (577)
12th - Glena Rusch (540)
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 in sole possession of fourth all-time in career-three-pointers made with 151. She overtook Alana Hancock for fourth place with a three-pointer against Valparaiso. She needs just one three-pointers to move into the top three long-range shooters all-time at Ball State as she would tie Markita Griffin for third at 152.
1st - Johna Goff (253)
2nd - Kate Endress (205)
3rd - Markita Griffin (152)
4th - Tina Bolte (151)
5th - Alana Hancock (139)
Lending a Helping Hand . . .
Senior guard Kelsey Corbin leads the team in assists with season with 66. She became just the seventh player all-time to reach 300 career assists earlier this season. She enters tonight's game fifth all-time in career assists at 352. She just passed Jane Emkes to move into the top five with her seven-assist performance at Central Michigan. s
1st - Shala Crook (628)
2nd - Jenny Eckert (471)
3rd - Johna Goff (447)
4th - Stephanie McQuinne (364)
5th - Kelsey Corbin (352)
6th - Jane Emkes (346)
7th - Alana Hancock (302)
Double-Trouble . . .
Junior Julie DeMuth led the Mid-American Conference in double-doubles last season as she posted 10 double dips as a sophomore and already has recorded four double dips so far this season. DeMuth posted her first double-double of the 2006-07 season against Wright State as she scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. She has since added double-doubles against Illinois State, Xavier, St. Peter's and Central Michigan. She moved into sole possession of third place all-time in career double-doubles at Ball State earlier this month 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 - 18
Kate Endress - 14
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.
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
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
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.
Looking Ahead . . .
The Cardinals will return home to Worthen Arena on Wednesday night as they host MAC-West Division foe Northern Illinois. Game time is set for 7 pm. and will be broadcast on the Ball State Sports Network.
