Ball State University Athletics
Women's Basketball 2009-10 Season Preview
October 16, 2009 | Women's Basketball
In her first season Packard guided Ball State to its third straight MAC West Division title, its first MAC Tournament championship and its first NCAA Tournament berth. Ball State stunned the women's basketball world with a first round win in the NCAA tournament against two time defending national champions, the University of Tennessee, 71-55. With the win, Ball State managed to extend its win streak to 12 straight victories which was the longest win streak in program history.
Packard became the first coach in Ball State's women basketball history to win 26 games in a rookie season. She led the Cardinals to their best ever overall and home records, 26-9 and 14-1, respectively. Ball State also had its best Mid-America Conference showing, turning in a 14-2 ledger.
"I talk often about our ability and effort to position for opportunity. These young ladies certainly positioned themselves throughout the season for opportunity, and made the most of the postseason opportunity they earned. The appearance in the NCAA tournament earned further respect for our program. However, it was the first round opponent, the University of Tennessee, which gave our program and Ball State University a national stage to further escalate the caliber of basketball which had positioned us for this opportunity. The victory over such a respected and dominant opponent created substantial media coverage, and gave our program visibility that is incalculable. Greater even than the visibility, it further anchored the winning mentality inside our program. It rewarded all the deliberate work we did at maturing in our mental toughness. It gave further value to our commitment to work hard at maintaining healthy team chemistry. That too, is incalculable, and our growth in these areas is such a crucial ingredient for future success."
The 2009-10 roster boasts strong leadership. This year's team captains are seniors Danielle Gratton and Audrey McDonald along with junior Emily Maggert. Last season, the trio combined for 51 percent of Ball State's total scoring and 43 percent of its rebounding.
"We return both great leaders and great players. Solid leadership is of such high value. I expect our 2009-2010 team captains to partner with our coaching staff to further grow in the areas of mental toughness, and healthy team dynamics in an effort to further build and solidify our winning mentality. It will be important that we stay committed to the factors that positioned us for success initially. Our youth will have a tremendous opportunity to be mentored by this year's captains and their role of leadership and accountability. Our team captains also happen to be our three returning starters from last season. Their effectiveness as leaders is complimented by their ability to lead and produce on the floor. In a year of transition with our perimeter game, the maturity, aptitude, and sense of calm that only comes with experience will be crucial. Their combined offensive ability will also provide confidence as we transition in other positions on the court."
The 2009-2010 roster highlights two seniors, Audrey McDonald and Danielle Gratton.
"Our senior class, Audrey McDonald and Danielle Gratton, possess tremendous respect inside our program, and in the Mid-American Conference. Audrey will most likely finish her career as the most accomplished 3-point shooter in program history. She has tremendous confidence in her ability as a shooter, and made a smooth adjustment to a transition style of offense. Audrey has also gained confidence in her ability as a defender through her commitment to increasing her lateral foot speed and improving her angles. The postseason and preseason skill instruction workouts have also focused on creating additional ways for her to score and for her to create scoring opportunities for her teammates."
"Danielle provides our team with incredible versatility. She has both big guard and small forward capabilities, and afforded our coaching staff a great deal of flexibility and windows to capitalize on a particular mismatch on the court. She led our team in rebounding last season, and we will rely on her efforts in that category once again. The youth of our program and their progressive development may allow Danielle to obtain more perimeter minutes this season which would highlight her 3-point shooting ability and her strength in attacking the rim off the dribble."
BSU welcomes three freshmen to its squad this season, Chloe Barnes (Quincy, IL), Shanee' Jackson (Hilliard, OH), and Mercedes Miller (Huber Heights, OH).
"The freshman class is very gifted and we are counting on their abilities to contribute and play an immediate role. Chloe Barnes, Shanee Jackson, and Mercedes Miller each possess perimeter skills, and were recruited intentionally due to the transition in our perimeter position. The graduation of Porchia Green and Kiley Jarrett created an immediate need for contribution at a very high level. The freshman class possesses a style of play that compliments our up-tempo offensive approach. Their ability to pressure the ball aggressively will hopefully allow us to implement an affective press."
The Cardinal roster includes three juniors. Emily Maggert and Shannon Klei, along with transfer TyRonda Benning.
"Emily Maggert had a phenomenal 2008-2009 campaign highlighted by finishing as our team's scoring leader (13.4ppg). Not only did she consistently put points on the board, her shooting percentage (.540) reflects accuracy and wise shot selection. She has grown in her skill level and in her leadership ability. A key aspect of Emily's success is her consistency and her overall fitness level. Her 3-point ability allows our offense to have perimeter shooting capability at all five positions of the floor."
Shannon Klei is a talented shooting guard and possesses great confidence as a pure shooter. Shannon made crucial "big time" shots for us last season in our MAC Championship run. The mentality of a confident shooter is contagious, and Shannon understands this concept."
"TyRonda Benning is a fierce competitor and understands the "floor general" mentality. Her two years of collegiate basketball (Lincoln Trail College, Robinson, IL) offers valuable experience to our perimeter game in a year of transition. Benning's competiveness reveals itself with intense defensive pressure on the ball, and a complete tempo match for our offensive system."
Four sophomores round out the Ball State women's basketball roster for the 2009-10 season. Forwards Jade Barber, Amber Crago and Suzanne Grossnickle along with guard Patrice King. All four played an integral part in the Cardinals success in 2008-09.
"Jade Barber finished her freshman season by showcasing her potential and growth as a player when she posted 13 points (6-7 FG/FGA) and pulled down 6 rebounds against Iowa State. Barber shot an impressive .595 (44-74) her freshman year, and will most certainly be looked toward this season to help anchor our rebounding efforts. The growth of her face-up game will provide more versatility in her contribution this season, and her defensive ability to alter opponent's shots are large assets."
"Amber Crago missed 15 games last season due to a back injury which limited her contribution. Even with her limitations, Crago's presence in the paint impacted the outcome of two specific games during our quest to claim the West Division title. She possesses a true back to the bucket offensive package and presents defensive matchup issues for our opponents."
"Suzanne Grossnickle has entered her sophomore season at such an elevated fitness level which has increased her confidence and overall presence within our team. She has a great awareness around the bucket and I consider her a true scorer on the inside. Her increased skill development has been substantial over the summer and preseason. Our inside game, largely in part to Suz's development will be much improved. "
"Patrice King played the "sixth man" role for our 2008-2009 roster averaging 5.5 points per game in 16 minutes of action per game. She visibly became more comfortable each game, and became a player of impact in her postseason minutes. Her ability to attack the rim off the dribble has been her strength, but the preseason skill instructional window has revealed consistent perimeter shooting as an addition to her offensive strengths."
As far as scheduling goes, the Cardinals will face five teams in non-conference action that were postseason participants in 2008-09. Wisconsin-Green Bay and Evansville both went to the NCAA Tournament last season, while Illinois State, Duquesne and Butler played in the WNIT.
Ball State opens the season at Big Ten foe Michigan Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. The Cardinals return to Worthen Arena for their home opener against Western Kentucky Monday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. BSU will then host Northern Arizona (Nov. 21) and Valparaiso (Nov. 24) before heading to North Dakota to take on North Dakota State (Nov. 27) and North Dakota (Nov. 29). The Cardinals then continue their three-game road swing taking on Missouri, Dec. 5.
The Cardinals will host Wisconsin-Green Bay (Dec. 10) and Illinois State (Dec. 13) before rounding out non-conference action with trips to Duquesne (Dec. 19), Evansville (Dec. 22) and Butler (Dec. 30). Ball State's last nonconference game will be at home against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in the middle of league play Jan. 15.
"The non-conference schedule reflects the strategy and commitment to position our program for postseason competition. This schedule is a blend of opponents with postseason experience, and it also exposes our roster to various styles of play. Our program finished the 2008-2009 season with the Mid-American Conference's top RPI and strength of schedule ranking, both key criteria in postseason considerations."
Ball State will take on Western Michigan at home Wednesday, Jan. 6, for its MAC opener, and the Cardinals will close league play at home against Central Michigan Tuesday, March 2.
"I expect our MAC opponents to be improved across the board, and I fully expect more parity and a closer race to achieve the divisional titles. I would be surprised if you see a team that posts a 15-1 or
14-2 MAC record in the regular season. Our entire conference should be commended on their recruiting efforts and we are gaining tremendous talent inside the MAC with the addition of this year's newcomers."
