MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State women's basketball team opens the 2007-08 season on Saturday afternoon as the Cardinals host No. 21/23 Louisville at Worthen Arena at 1 p.m. The game is the season opener for both teams and the first time that a team from the Big East Conference is playing in Worthen Arena.
“Our team and coaches look forward to the tremendous challenge that Louisville brings to Worthen Arena,” head coach Tracy Roller said. “They are a premiere program and we hope to achieve that level someday. This will be a good litmus test of where we are as a team this early in the season.”
Ball State enters the season as the preseason favorite to win the Mid-American Conference West Division and the MAC Tournament. The Cardinals, who are defending MAC West champions, are coming off of a 24-7 overall record last season.
The Cardinals are led by their four returning starters in seniors Julie DeMuth (Merrillville, Merrillville) and Lisa Rusche (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills); junior Porchia Green (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) and sophomore Audrey McDonald (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo).
DeMuth, a preseason All-MAC selection, led the Cardinals in scoring at 15.5 points and in rebounding at 8.8 boards per game. She scored in double figures in 27 of 31 games last season and posted a team-high 11 double-doubles. Rusche had a breakout season last year as she finished third on the team in scoring at 11.2 points and second in rebounding at 6.9 boards per game.
Green also earned preseason All-MAC honors as she averaged 10.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game last season. McDonald was named to the All-MAC Freshman team last year as she averaged 8.7 points per game as she converted 62-of-155 (.400) from three-point land.
Joining them in the starting lineup this season is junior guard Kiley Jarrett (Bloomington, Ind./North). Jarrett was one of the Cardinals' top reserves last season as she averaged 15.8 minutes per game and finished third on the team with 62 assists.
Ball State played one exhibition game this season as it took home a 75-68 victory over the Hoosier Lady Stars on Nov. 2. All five starters scored in double figures for the Cardinals, including double-doubles from DeMuth and Rusche. DeMuth scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Rusche added 13 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.
McDonald led all scorers in the exhibition game with 17 points on the strength of four three-pointers. Jarrett chipped in 10 points and five assists while Green added 14 points, nine rebounds, six assists, four blocks and two steals.
Saturday's game is the third meeting all-time between Ball State and Louisville with BSU trailing the series 1-2 all-time. The Cardinals picked up a victory in the 2001-02 season, before falling in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
Louisville is coming off of a 27-8 record last season as it finished fifth in the Big East Conference. The Cardinals are led by reigning Big East Player of the Year Angel McCoughtry. McCoughtry led Louisville last season with 23.3 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per contest as she was named an All-American.
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