Ball State University Athletics
WBB Hosts WMU in MAC Home Opener Tuesday
January 10, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Media: WERK (104.9 FM) - Jay Garrison
WCRD (91.3) - Chris Renkel and Donnie Kolakowski
Scouting Ball State: Ball State enters tonight's contest with a 5-10 overall record and 0-2 Mid-American Conference mark after falling to Toledo (63-46) and Eastern Michigan (70-62) last week on the road. The high scorer versus the Rockets for the Cardinals was senior forward Emily Maggert who chipped in 18 points. Freshman Katie Murphy had her first career start at EMU and led the Cardinals in scoring with a personal best 17 points. Head Coach Kelly Packard is now 2-1 when it comes to MAC openers. Watch for Maggert to possibly move into fourth all-time in the Ball State women's basketball scoring list at home Tuesday as she needs only two points to pass former Cardinal Emma Jones who currently holds that spot with 1,513 points.
Scouting Western Michigan: The Broncos enter tonight's game with a 4-11 overall record and 0-2 in the MAC. WMU dropped both of its league contest last week after suffering a 72-62 loss to Central Michigan and fell 63-60 in overtime Saturday to Toledo. The Broncos have three players averaging double figures with Taylor Manley leading the way with 13.5. Ebony Cleary is averaging 13.0 points while Brenna Bankston add 10.1 ppg.
The Coaches: Ball State head coach Kelly Packard is in her third season at Ball State . . . Packard's overall record at Ball State is 45-36 (.555), while her Mid-American Conference mark is 21-13 . . . Tasha McDowell is in her third season at Western Michigan. . . McDowell's overall record at Western Michigan is 20-55 and owns a MAC record of 7-27.
The Series: Ball State went 3-0 agains the Broncos last season, winning at home by a score of 70-55, at WMU (78-62) and then again in the first round of the MAC tournament (67-43). This is the 65th meeting between Ball State and Western Michigan . . . The all-time series record between the Broncos and the Cardinal is knotted at 32-32 . . . The Cardinals have won seven in row against the Broncos since the 2007-08 season.
Coach Packard's Game Day Quote: "We are excited to return to Worthen Arena for 4 of our next 5 conference games. Western Michigan is much improved and the energy and support of being in Worthen will be important
