Women?s Hoops Highlights MAC Postseason Honors

March 09, 2008 | Women's Basketball

By: Ball State Athletics

MUNCIE, Ind. ? The two-time defending Mid-American Conference West Division champion Ball State women's basketball team had four players receive postseason accolades from the MAC this season the league office announced Saturday evening. The Cardinals tied a program record with three All-MAC selections and picked up its first specialty award winner since the 2004-05 season.

Junior guard Porchia Green (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) earned First Team All-MAC honors, senior forward Julie DeMuth (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville) was named Third Team All-MAC and senior forward Lisa Rusche (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) was named Honorable Mention All-MAC. The three All-Conference selections are tied for the most by any team this season (Miami) and the most for Ball State since it placed three players on the teams in the 1982-83 season (Karen Bauer, Jane Emkes and Donna Lamping).

Freshman forward Emily Maggert (Paris, Ill./Paris) was a dual winner as she became the first Cardinals player to be named the MAC's Sixth Player of the Year, given to the top reserve in the conference. She also was named to the MAC's All-Freshman team marking the second straight season in which the Cardinals were represented on the rookie team (Audrey McDonald 2006-07). She is the first specialty award winner for the Cardinals since Kate Endress won MAC Player of the Year honors in 2004-05.

“It is awesome for our individual accomplishments to be recognized by the MAC coaches,” acting head coach Lisa McDonald said. “These honors show the type of balanced attack that we have. We pride ourselves on being a team and I think our All-MAC players take great pride in representing Ball State and our women's basketball program with these awards.”

Green, the reigning MAC West Division Player of the Week, becomes just the sixth different Cardinals player to earn First Team All-MAC honors. She leads the team in scoring (13.0), rebounding (7.0), assists (133) and steals (48). She has scored in double figures in 21 out of the Cardinals' 29 games this season, including 13 of their 16 MAC contests. She ranks in the top 15 in the MAC in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, assists, steals, blocked shots, assist/turnover ratio, defensive rebounds and minutes played.

“We couldn't have asked for a more amazing or productive season from Porchia and she is very deserving of this honor,” McDonald said. “We have depended on her to bring us great energy, to spark our offense and lead our defense. She leads us in most statistical categories but there are no numbers that can measure what she brings to this team. She has stepped up her game in every aspect this year.”

DeMuth, a preseason All-MAC selection, joins former Cardinals Tamara Bowie and Jenny Eckert as the only players in program history to be recognized with postseason honors from the MAC all four years of their playing careers. DeMuth earned First Team All-MAC honors as a junior, Third Team honors as a sophomore and was a member of the MAC All-Freshman team to go along with this season's Third Team selection.

DeMuth is second on the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game and in rebounding at 6.7 boards per contest. She has scored in double figures in 17 games this season, including 10 times in MAC play. She became just the fourth player in Ball State history to reach 900-career rebounds. She also ranks in the top 12 in Ball State history in double-doubles, rebounds, starts, steals, scoring, blocked shots, games played, minutes played, free throws made and free throws attempted.

“Julie epitomizes heart and toughness with what she has been able to accomplish this year through adversity,” McDonald said. “She has absolutely willed us to win games this year with her grit and determination. She is the unquestioned leader of our team and has the commitment to make Ball State basketball its best.”

Rusche picks up her first every MAC postseason honor by being named an Honorable Mention All-MAC. She is third on the team in scoring at 11.0 points per game and is third on the team in rebounding at 6.3 boards per contest. She has scored in double figures 21 times this season, including 13 times in MAC play. She is second all-time in Ball State history with 99 career blocked shots and ranks fifth in the MAC this season with 29 rejections. She is eighth in the conference in field goal percentage as she is shooting 49.1 percent (141-of-320) from the field.

“This is a great honor for Lisa as she has consistently improved her level of play throughout her career,” McDonald said. “She has stepped up and made big plays on both ends of the floor throughout the season. She is leaving a legacy of how persistence and dedication can pay off. I am so proud of what she has accomplished this season.”

Maggert has been the Cardinals' top reserve as she is averaging 9.2 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per contest. She is shooting 52.6 percent (101-of-192) from the field this season. She has picked up her game in MAC play this year averaging 12.1 points per game against league foes. She is second in the conference with a 59.1 percent (78-of-132) shooting percentage against MAC teams.

“Emily has made an incredible impact on our team in her first MAC season,” McDonald said. “Her consistent play at such a high level is remarkable for a freshman. It speaks volume for how balanced our team is to be able to bring such a talented player off of the bench. We are so proud of the season she has had and know that the best is yet to come for her in the future.”

She has scored in double figures in 13 of the Cardinals' 16 MAC games this season, including a stretch of 10 straight double figure scoring games. She scored a career-high 24 points in her first career MAC contest at Western Michigan to earn MAC West Division Player of the Week honors.

“I am so proud of all of these players for what they have accomplished this year but I know that the trophy they are most happy to receive is the West Division title,” McDonald said.

The Cardinals are the number one seed from the West Division in the upcoming 2008 Kraft MAC Tournament. The Cardinals have a first round bye in the tournament and will open play Tuesday, March 11against the winner of the Toledo/Buffalo contest. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

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