Ball State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Prepares For Exhibition Game Thursday
November 01, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Kelly Packard Quote: "Our exhibition game will serve as a measuring stick for our progression to this point, and shape the content of our remaining practices prior to our home opener against Indiana. There is also a high value in allowing your new players to put their Ball State uniforms on for the first time."
About St. Joseph's: St. Joseph's is coached by Dr. Chad Pulver. The Puma's ended the season 8-19 overall in 2009-10 with a 6-12 conference record. St. Joseph's was led by guard Tatiana Ortiz who averaged 15.3 points per game last season. St. Joseph's is located in Rensselaer, Ind.
Scouting the Cardinals: The Cardinals return eight players from last season while welcoming five newcomers.
Ball State is led by three-time preseason All-Mid-American Conference selection Emily Maggert. The senior forward led the Cardinals in points (17.0), rebounds (10.6), steals (1.2) and blocks (1.0) last season. She set the Ball State record for rebounds in a season with 329 in 2009-10. Maggert currently ranks seventh all-time in rebounds (681), ninth all-time in scoring (1,270), 10th all-time in free throws made (273) and ninth all-time in field goals (477). She has managed 22 double-doubles in her career. She ended last year ranked 13th in the country for double-doubles (19) and 17th in rebounds per game (10.6). She was also a 2010 All-MAC Second Team selection.
Senior guard and Muncie native Ty'Ronda Benning returns as a captain and a starting guard for the Cardinals. Benning was third on the team in scoring with 9.8 points per game and tied for second in steals with 36. Other guards coming into the mix this season will be sophomore Chloe Barnes, who saw limited action due to injuries, and transfer Megan Craft, who averaged 9.7 points per game and 6.2 assists per game (8th in the nation) last season at Vincennes. Also returning at the guard position for Ball State will be Ebony Jackson, who has was hindered last year due to an injury, and Shanee' Jackson who was a starter in nine games in 2009-10. Jackson totaled 29 steals, while averaging 2.9 points per game in 2009-10. Rounding out the guard position is sophomore Mercedes Miller, along with true freshmen Jordan Huber and Brandy Woody.
Maggert, Amber Crago and Suzanne Grossnickle are all returning to the post position. Crago participated in all 31 games for the Cardinals last season with seven starts and averaged 3.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest. Grossnickle also saw action in 24 games, contributing 2.0 points per game and 1.5 rebounds. New faces in the post play department for the Cardinals are freshmen Jazmin Hitchens and Katie Murphy.
Preseason Outcome: Ball State was picked to finish fourth in the MAC West Division behind Toledo (1st), Eastern Michigan (2nd) and Central Michigan (3rd). Bowling Green was picked to win the MAC East Division and the MAC Tournament for the 2010-11 season.
Cardinals Have Home Court Advantage In November:
The Ball State women's basketball team is staying close to home for its opening month as it hosts Big Ten foe Indiana Nov. 12, at Worthen Arena for a 7 p.m. tipoff. The Cardinals play at home again Nov. 14, against Wright State before going on the road Nov. 16, at Detroit Mercy. Ball State hosts Evansville Nov. 20, at 6 p.m. before ending competition for the month on the road at Valparaiso, Nov. 24.
Fun Fact: Head coach Kelly Packard begins her third season at the helm of the Cardinals. For the third straight season Ball State will open its season against a Big Ten opponent. In 2008-09 the Cardinals were at Indiana and in 2009-10 Ball State opened the season at Michigan. The 2010-11 campaign marks the first time in two years Ball State will open its season at Worthen Arena.
