Ball State University Athletics
Women?s Basketball Returns Home Saturday Against Butler
December 28, 2007 | Women's Basketball
What's On Tap . . .
The Cardinals return home for the first time since Dec. 4 as they host instate rival Butler in their final non-conference contest of the 2007-08 season. Today's game is just the Cardinals fourth home game during the season's first 13 games.
Ball State enters the game with a 4-8 overall record while Butler brings in a 9-1 mark into the game.
DeMuth's Record . . .
Senior forward Julie DeMuth became the Cardinals' all-time leader in free throws made last week in Las Vegas as she has now connected on 382 career free throws. She moved past former Cardinal great Tamara Bowie for sole possession of first place. She is second all-time in career free throws attempted at 507 and needs just four more attempts to take that record over from Bowie.
DeMuth already owns the BSU single season records for free throws made (167) and attempted (214) as well as the single game record for free throws made (15).a
Series History . . .
Today's game is the 17th meeting all-time between Ball State and Butler. The Cardinals trail the all-time series by a 7-9 margin, although they have taken home victories in the last three meetings.
Butler
1980-81 L 54-69 H
1981-82 W 76-74 A
1982-83 L 59-69 H
1983-84 W 78-63 A
1984-85 W 57-48 H
1985-86 W 77-66 A
1986-87 L 53-57 N
1987-88 L 62-72 H
1988-89 L 83-86+ A
1989-90 L 62-70 H
1990-91 L 69-79 A
1993-94 L 50-65 H
1994-95 L 66-79 A
2001-02 W 89-68 H
2005-06 W 74-66 A
2006-07 W 97-65 A
Ball State trails 7-9
Home: 2-5, Away: 5-3, N: 0-1
Last Season Versus Butler . . .
The Cardinals took home a 97-65 victory last season at Hinkle Fieldhouse against the Bulldogs in the State Farm Hoosier Classic. Forward Lisa Rusche poured in a career-high 36 points, which is the fourth highest output in program history.
She finished the game 15-of-23 from the field in the victory as she surpassed her old career-high just 12 minutes into the game. She also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to record her second career double-double. Her 36 points are the most scored by a Cardinal since Tamara Bowie notched a school-record 40 points in the 2002-03 season.
Forward Julie DeMuth finished the game with 15 points and nine rebounds as she narrowly missed her second double-double of the season. She scored all 15 points from the free throw line as she tied Bowie's school-record for free throws made in a game with 15-of-16 (93.7%) made from the stripe.
Ball State was hitting on all cylinders offensively as it connected on 55 percent (33-of-60) from the field. The Cardinals also hit 29-of-37 (78.4%) from the free throw line in the victory.
The 97 points the Cardinals scored are the most since BSU took home a 97-94 victory over Miami in the 2002-03 season. It also marks the first time that the Cardinals have scored over 90 points in two games in a season since the 2002-03 season.
Green Honored . . .
Junior guard Porchia Green was named to the Lady Rebel Christmas Classic All-Tournament Team for her efforts in guiding the Cardinals to a 1-1 mark in Las Vegas last week. This is the second midseason All-Tournament honor for Green this season and the third time in her career she has been named to the All-Tournament team.
Green, a preseason All-Mid-American Conference selection, averaged 17.5 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per contest in the Cardinals' games against Liberty and Austin Peay. She connected on 59.1 percent (13-of-22) of her shots from the field in Las Vegas and hit three-of-five from three-point land.
She posted her first double-double of the season in the consolation game against Austin Peay as she scored a season-high 21 points and grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds. She was eight-of-10 shooting from the field, including two-of-three from long range against the Lady Govs. She scored a team-high 14 points in the Cardinals' loss to Liberty in the first game of the Classic.
Last Time Out . . .
The Cardinals snapped a six-game losing streak before the holiday break as they took home a 68-59 victory over Austin Peay in the consolation game of the Lady Rebel Christmas Classic. Junior guard Porchia Green posted her first double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds in the victory.
Ball State blistered the nets in the first half as it connected on 55.2 percent (16-of-29) from the field overall and 53.3 percent (eight-of-15) from three-point land. The Cardinals forced the Lady Govs into 11 first half turnovers and held them to 44.4 percent (12-of-27) shooting from the floor.
The Cardinals finished the game shooting 45.8 percent (22-of-48) from the field and 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from three-point land. The 45.8 percent shooting is the highest for the Cardinals since Nov. 24 at Northern Arizona. Ball State also shot 82.4 percent from the free throw line (14-of-17), including 11-of-14 in the second half.
Sophomore guard Audrey McDonald added 14 points as she connected on four three-pointers. Senior Julie DeMuth finished with nine points on seven-of-eight shooting from the free throw line. Lisa Rusche added eight points while freshman Shannon Klei finished with a career-high eight points, all in the first half. Kiley Jarrett added six points as seven different Cardinals made their way onto the score sheet.
Scouting The Cardinals . . .
Ball State enters today's game with a 4-8 record on the season. The Cardinals are coming off of a 68-59 victory against Austin Peay before the holiday break that snapped a six-game losing streak.
The Cardinals are averaging 62.2 points per game this season and are allowing 66.8 points against. Ball State has connected on 40.8 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from three-point land.
Junior guard Porchia Green leads the Cardinals in scoring this season as she is averaging 12.4 points per game. She has connected on 51.4 percent of her shots (56-of-109) from the field and 45.8 percent (11-of-24) from three-point land. She is also third on the team in rebounds at 5.4 per game, leads the team in assists at 47 and in steals at 20.
Senior forward Julie DeMuth is second on the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game and leads the team in rebounding at 6.3 boards per contest. She has connected on 79.4 percent (54-of-68) from the free throw line this season.
Senior forward Lisa Rusche is third on the team in scoring at 9.8 points per game and second in rebounds at 5.6 boards per game. Sophomore guard Audrey McDonald is fourth in scoring at 9.5 points per game as she has connected on 41.7 (30-of-72) from three-point land. Junior point guard Kiley Jarrett is fifth in scoring at 6.8 points per game and second in assists at 36.
Scouting The Bulldogs . . .
Butler enters today's game with a 9-1 overall record as they are riding a seven-game winning streak. The Bulldogs' lone loss came at Purdue and have picked up wins against Ohio, Bradley, Monmouth, Miami, Indiana State, Oakland City, Evansville, Tennessee State and IPFW.
Butler is averaging 67.6 points per game this season while holding opponents to just 59.2 points against. Center Lade Akande leads the team in scoring at 16.5 points per game and is second in rebounding at 6.1 boards per game. Susan Lester is second in scoring at 14.1 points per game and leads on the boards at 7.2 rebounds per game.
National Rankings . . .
Sophomore guard Audrey McDonald is 46th in the nation in three-point shooting so far this season as she has connected on 41.7 percent from long-range. Last season, she finished the year tied for 21st in the nation in three-point shooting at 40 percent.
DeMuth National Candidate . . .
Senior forward Julie DeMuth has been named a candidate for the 2007-08 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award as one of the nation's top 30 senior female college basketball players.
The award, presented annually to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete of the Year in eight sports, focuses on the “Four C's” of classroom, character, community and competition. Lowe's, an official corporate sponsor of the NCAA, will award the winners with trophies during the NCAA Final Four.
DeMuth is the only player from the Mid-American Conference named as a candidate. She is joined on the list with BSU men's basketball player Peyton Stovall. Ball State joins Tennessee, Texas A&M and the United States Military Academy as the only schools with both a male and female candidate. The two are also the first in either sport in Ball State history to be among the top 30 candidates.
Television Exposure . . .
The Cardinals will have five Mid-American Conference games televised this season between the Ball State Sports Network package and the MAC television package. Three of the Cardinals' five games broadcast will be from Worthen Arena.
The Cardinals' first televised game will be their MAC opener at Western Michigan on Jan. 9 as it will be broadcast on Comcast Local. The Cardinals' other game off of the MAC television package is Feb. 16 at Kent State and it will be televised on Fox Sports Ohio.
Ball State will have three games broadcast on the Ball State Sports Network this season. The Cardinals' games on BSSN will be Jan. 26 vs. Bowling Green, Feb. 3 vs. Buffalo and Mar. 5 vs. Northern Illinois.
Cardinals In MAC Stats . . .
Through the early part of the season, the Cardinals find themselves sprinkled throughout the Mid-American Conference individual statistics. Ball State is the only team in the MAC to have four players in the top 24 in scoring heading into the week. Junior guard Porchia Green is 11th in scoring (12.4), senior forward Julie DeMuth is 12th (12.3), senior forward Lisa Rusche is 19th (9.8) and sophomore guard Audrey McDonald is 24th (9.5)
Green also is third in the conference in field goal percentage (.514), fifth in minutes (34.75), seventh in assists (3.89), seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.21), 10th in steals (1.67), 13th in free throw percentage (.765) and18th in rebounding (5.4).
DeMuth is 10th in rebounding (6.4) and tied for eighth in free throw percentage (.794). Rusche is 11th in field goal percentage (.448) and 16th in rebounds (5.6). McDonald is fifth in three-point percentage (.417) and fifth in fourth-pointers made per game (2.5).
Junior point guard Kiley Jarrett is 11th in assists (3.27) and third in assist/turnover ratio (1.44).
DeMuth In The Records . . .
Senior forward Julie DeMuth is moving up the all-time charts in numerous statistical categories. DeMuth is in the top 15 in all-time double-doubles, scoring, rebounds, free throws made, free throws attempted and steals.
She is first all-time in free throws made, second all-time in free throws attempted, third all-time in double-doubles, fourth all-time in rebounds, eighth all-time in steals and 11th all-time in scoring.
She moved into 11th all-time in scoring against Austin Peay. She moved past former Cardinal Shala Crook for sole possession of 11th place.
Double-Doubles
1. Emma Jones - 49
2. Tamara Bowie - 31
3. Julie DeMuth - 26
Points
9. Markita Griffin - 1,204
10. Jessica Reiter - 1,171
11. Julie DeMuth - 1,164
12. Shala Crook - 1,162
Rebounding
3. Tamara Bowie - 933
4. Julie DeMuth - 809
5. Karen Bauer - 760
Free Throws Made
1. Julie DeMuth - 382
2. Tamara Bowie - 379
Free Throws Attempted
1. Tamara Bowie - 510
2. Julie DeMuth - 507
3. Emma Jones - 504
Steals
7. Emma Jones - 168
8. Julie DeMuth - 160
9. Jane Emkes - 155
Midseason Tournaments . . .
The Cardinals have taken part in a midseason multi-day tournament for 12 straight seasons and the 23rd time in the last 24 seasons. The Cardinals have posted success in midseason tournaments as they have claimed tournament titles in five of their past six tournaments, including the La Quinta Inn & Suites Thanksgiving Tournament championship earlier this season.
In fact, the Cardinals have won at least one multi-day midseason tournament for the past six seasons.
Tournament Championships
2007-08
La Quinta Inn & Suites Thanksgiving
2006-07
BSU Credit Union Thanksgiving
SPC Holiday Classic
2005-06
BSU Credit Union Thanksgiving
2004-05
Seton Hall Tournament
2003-04
East Carolina Invitational
2002-03
Lehigh Invitational
1999-2000
Minnesota Regal Classic
Coll. Of Charleston Classic
1997-98
Beach Blast Tourney
1990-91
Cardinal Roundball Fest
DeMuth Honored . . .
Senior forward Julie DeMuth was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week after guiding the Cardinals to the La Quinta Inn & Suites Thanksgiving Tournament title. DeMuth was named Tournament Most Valuable Player for her efforts in BSU victories against Vermont and host Northern Arizona.
She averaged 21 points in the two victories as she shot 50 percent (12-of-24) from the field and 84.2 percent (16-of-19) from the free throw line. She also averaged nine rebounds per game while averaging just 26.2 minutes per game.
Against Vermont, she was unstoppable as she scored a tournament-high 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in 29 minutes. She hit seven-of-14 shots from the field and was 12-of-15 from the charity stripe. She followed that performance up with a 16-point effort against NAU in just 24 minutes of action. She was five-of-10 from the field against the Lumberjacks and hit all four of her free throws.
She has now been named tournament MVP for four straight midseason tournaments dating back to her sophomore season.
All-Tournament Honors . . .
Senior forward Julie DeMuth and junior guard Porchia Green were named to the La Quinta Inn & Suites Thanksgiving Tournament All-Tournament Team. DeMuth picked up Tournament Most Valuable Player honors as she averaged 21 points and nine rebounds per contest.
Green picked up her second career All-Tournament honor as she scored 14 points per game in the tournament. She scored 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists in the tournament championship game against host Northern Arizona.
Night Of Firsts . . .
The Cardinals' victory at Wright State was a night of firsts for the Cardinals as redshirt freshman Kyleigh Jones along with true freshmen Emily Maggert and Shannon Klei each recorded their first career collegiate points. Jones scored late in the first half to give the Cardinals their first lead, Maggert scored early in the game on her way to 10 points and Klei hit a couple of big three-pointers in the second half.
The game marks the first time since the 2004-05 season opener against Wagner that three Cardinals have scored their first collegiate points in the same game. In that game, Julie DeMuth, Lisa Rusche and former Cardinal Brandy Ross scored their first points of their careers.
Tough Schedule . . .
The Cardinals boosted their strength of schedule this season as four opponents advanced to the postseason last year, and 11 of a possible 15 non-conference opponents had winning records in 2006-07. The non-conference opponents averaged 18 victories last season with Louisville and Temple leading the way with 27 and 25 wins respectively.
Below is a list of non-conference opponents and their 2006-07 records:
Louisville 27-8
Wright State 10-18
Indiana 19-14
Vermont 19-12
Northern Arizona 20-12
Fairliegh Dickinson 11-18
Temple 25-8
Valparaiso 20-11
Illinois State 22-11
Indiana State 19-11
Evansville 19-12
Liberty 19-12
UNLV 14-15
Austin Peay 10-20
Butler 16-15
Early Signing Period . . .
The Cardinals picked up four high school standouts on as Jade Barber, Amber Clark, Suzanne Grossnickle and Patrice King signed national letters of intent on the first day of the early signing period.
Barber, a 6-2 forward from Ballard High School in Louisville, Ky., averaged 12 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per contest as a junior. Her 10.3 rebounds per game were 18th best in the state last season. She was rated the fifth best prospect in the state by the Rick Bolus Report.
Clark, a 6-3 center from Huntington North High School in Huntington, Ind., averaged 18 points per game as a junior as she connected on 55 percent of her shots from the field. She finished eighth in the state in rebounds as she averaged 11.7 boards per game.
Grossnickle, a 6-2 forward from Belleville, Ill., spent the last three seasons at Marian Catholic before transferring to Belleville East for her senior season. She guided Marian Catholic to a 29-4 record as a junior as she averaged 12.4 points per game and eight rebounds per contest. She helped her team to a third place finish in the Class AA State Tournament last season as she connected on 70.1 percent (148-of-211) from the field. She led her team in scoring 20 out of 33 games last season.
King, a 5-6 point guard from St. Louis, Mo., also spent the past three seasons at Marian Catholic in Chicago before transferring to St. Joseph's Academy for her senior season. She was the floor general of the Marian Catholic team that won 52 games over the past two seasons. She averaged 6.8 points per game as she connected on 98-of-159 (61.6 percent) of her shots from the field.
Leading The Way . . .
Head coach Tracy Roller enters her seventh season at the helm of the Cardinals. She is the all-time winningest women's basketball coach in Ball State history and the third winningest coach, men's or women's, in BSU history. Roller has amassed a 118-72 overall record during her time, including the program's three 20-plus win seasons.
New Faces In The Crowd . . .
Head coach Tracy Roller welcomes in three new faces to her coaching staff this season with the additions of Marsha Frese, Charlie Hall and Kelsey Corbin. Frese returns to Ball State for her second stint as an assistant coach after spending the last four seasons at the University of Illinois.
Hall comes to the Cardinals after being the varsity head girls' coach at Kokomo High School (1997-2004, 2005-06). Corbin joins the staff as the Director of Basketball Operations after completing her stellar playing career last season.
Captain's Choice . . .
Head coach Tracy Roller announced her team's tri-captains for the 2007-08 season in senior Julie DeMuth and juniors Porchia Green and Kiley Jarrett. Last season, seniors Kelsey Corbin and Becca Bajorek were named team captains.
Cardinals MAC Favorites . . .
For the first time in program history, the Cardinals have been picked as the 2007-08 preseason favorite to win the Mid-American Conference West Division and the MAC Tournament title. The preseason poll is voted on by league coaches and institutional voters.
The Cardinals were picked to repeat as West Division champions with 240 total votes, including 36 out of 41 potential first place votes. Ball State held a 56-point lead over second-place Northern Illinois (184) which recorded two first place votes. Eastern Michigan (150) was tabbed third while Western Michigan (122) was fourth and received three first place votes. Rounding out the division, Toledo (106) was picked fifth and Central Michigan (59) was tabbed for sixth.
Ball State returns seven letterwinners and four starters from last season's 24-7 team that advanced to the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). The 24 victories last season were tied for the single-season record for wins in Ball State program history.
Radio Air Time . . .
The Cardinals will again have most of their games broadcast on the student station WCRD 91.3, including all home games and selected road 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.
WCRD will also broadcast the Tracy Roller Show again this season on Monday nights from 7-8 p.m.
Ball State will also have 15 regular season games broadcast on Muncie's WXFN 1340 AM this season as well as being streamed online at ballstatesports.com. Jay Garrison will handle the play-by-play duties this season. The 15 games broadcast on WXFN are:
Nov. 10 vs. Louisville
Nov. 17 vs. Indiana
Dec. 1 at Valparaiso
Dec. 4 vs. Illinois State
Dec. 6 at Indiana State
Dec. 29 vs. Butler
Jan. 15 vs. Eastern Michigan
Jan. 23 vs. Central Michigan
Jan. 26 vs. Bowling Green
Feb. 3 vs. Buffalo
Feb. 9 vs. Akron
Feb. 13 at Miami
Feb. 19 vs. Toledo
Mar. 1 vs. W. Michigan
Mar. 5 vs. Northern Illinois
MAC TOURNAMENT
Looking Ahead . . .
The Cardinals will be off again until Jan. 9 when they open Mid-American Conference play at Western Michigan.
####
