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VALPARAISO, Ind. ? The Ball State women's basketball team continues its road swing on Saturday afternoon as the Cardinals take part in the eighth annual State Farm Hoosier Classic. Ball State will meet this year's host Valparaiso at 4:05 p.m. (ET) at the Athletics-Recreation Center in the second game of the afternoon, while Indiana State and Butler will meet in the first game of the Hoosier Classic. This year's Hoosier Classic in Valparaiso is a homecoming for both Roller and senior forward Julie DeMuth (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville) as they are from Northwestern Indiana.
“We have mixed feelings about heading up to northwestern Indiana for the final Hoosier Classic,” seventh-year head coach Tracy Roller said. “We are excited to play in another rivalry game against a perennial powerhouse in Valparaiso. Keith Freeman is an excellent coach and does a great job of testing our team. I enjoy playing them because they always challenge us to be our best.”
The Hoosier Classic matches up Ball State, Valparaiso, Indiana State and Butler for two games in one day at rotating sites each year since the 2000-01 season. This will be the final year of the Hoosier Classic in this format as Valparaiso and Butler are now in the same conference, the Horizon League.
“Julie and I are also looking forward to returning close to our home towns so that family and friends can watch our team,” Roller said. “But, at the close of the traditional classic, we will feel saddened by the fact that the Hoosier Classic will come to an end. It has been great for all of the teams because of the competition, the fellowship and the recruiting. The Hoosier Classic will be missed.”
The Cardinals are 2-5 all-time in the Hoosier Classic with two wins over Butler (2006-07 & 2001-02). Last season, the Cardinals took home a 97-65 victory over Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Senior forward Lisa Rusche (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) was the catalyst as she scored a career-high 36 points in the Hoosier Classic and finished the game 15-of-23 from the field.
Ball State is 0-3 all-time against Indiana State (2004-05, 2003-04 & 2000-01) and 0-2 all-time against Valparaiso (2005-06 & 2002-03) in the Hoosier Classic. Valparaiso is 5-2 all-time in the Classic while Indiana State is 6-1. Butler rounds out the Hoosier Classic records as the Bulldogs are 1-6 all-time in the event.
Saturday's game is the 11th meeting all-time between Ball State and Valparaiso. The Cardinals hold a 6-4 advantage in the series all-time. Last season, the Cardinals snapped a four-game losing streak to the Crusaders as head coach Tracy Roller picked up her first career victory against former boss Keith Freeman.
Ball State took home a 68-59 victory in the Hoopla hosted by IPFW. The victory was the first by BSU over Valpo since the 1989-90 season. The Cardinals closed the game on a 20-4 run to take home the victory.
Junior guard Porchia Green (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) keyed the Cardinals comeback as she recorded her first career double-double. Green scored a career-high 21 points as she was five-of-10 from the field and four-of-seven from three-point land. She also grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds, dished out five assists and tallied two steals in the all-around performance.
The Cardinals enter Saturday's game with a 3-3 overall record as they had a two-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday night with a loss at Temple. The Cardinals are averaging 66.8 points per game. Ball State has connected on 44.8 percent (130-of-290) from the field and 42.7 percent (35-of-82) from three-point land.
The Cardinals and their balanced scoring attack are the only team in the Mid-American Conference with at least four players averaging double figures on the year. DeMuth leads the team with a 14.2 points per game average and also paces the club with a 7.2 rebounds per game clip.
Green is second on the team in scoring at 12.2 points per game. She has connected on 51.9 percent (28-of-54) from the field. Sophomore guard Audrey McDonald (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) adds 11.3 points per game as she has hit 16-of-36 (44.4 percent) from long range.
Rusche rounds out the double figure scorers with 10 points per game while also grabbing 4.7 boards per contest. Junior guard Kiley Jarrett (Bloomington, Ind./North) adds 7.8 points and 4.0 assists per game.
Valparaiso enters the game with a 1-5 record overall as the Crusaders opened the season with six straight games away from home. Valpo is coming off of its first win of the season as it downed Central Connecticut State in the consolation game of the FGCU Thanksgiving Tournament. The Crusaders have fallen to Bowling Green, Purdue, Cincinnati, Xavier and Eastern Kentucky.
Valparaiso is averaging 63.2 points per game this season while allowing opponents to score 73.2 points per game. The Crusaders lead the Horizon League with eight three-pointers per game.
Junior forward Aimee Litka leads the team in scoring at 11.5 points per game. Guard Agnieszka Kulaga is second on the team in scoring at 11.0 points per game and was named to the All-Tournament team at the FGCU Thanksgiving Tournament.
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