Ball State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Announces 2011-12 Captains
October 11, 2011 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State University head women's basketball coach Kelly Packard announced that seniors Amber Crago and Suzanne Grossnickle have been named the captains for the 2011-12 Cardinals this season.
"Our program has selected seniors Amber Crago and Suzanne Grossnickle as our 2011-2012 team captains," said Packard. "Amber and Suzanne have displayed consistency in their loyalty to our program, and they have uniquely different leadership qualities which will serve to complement their joint effort to lead their peers."
Crago and Grossnickle return as the program's active rebound leaders. As freshmen the duo helped the Cardinals claim their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory as it handed Tennessee its only first round NCAA Tournament loss in program history. During the course of their freshmen season the Cardinals won its third straight MAC West Division title and earned the school's first MAC Tournament championship.
As one of the top returning rebounders for the Cardinals, Crago has averaged 2.8 rebounds per game for her career, with 22 total blocks while scoring 287 points. As a freshman Crago averaged 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 points during the MAC and NCAA tournament. She scored seven points and pulled down four boards against Buffalo in the MAC Tournament semifinals in 2009.
This is the second season in a row that Grossnickle has been picked by her coaches and peers to lead the Cardinals. Grossnickle has played in a total of 82 games during her tenure at Ball State. For her career she has shot 75 percent from the free throw line, has pulled down 208 total rebounds with 39 blocks while scoring a total of 272 points. Last season Grossnickle had a break-through performance after scoring a career high 16 points in a win over Wright State.
The Ball State University women's basketball team will open its 2011-12 season at home Friday, Nov. 11 as it hosts Illinois State in Worthen Arena with a 7 p.m. tipoff.
