Ball State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Begins Exhibition Play Thursday
October 31, 2011 | Women's Basketball
What's On Tap: Ball State opens the 2011-12 season, Thursday night with an exhibition game as the Cardinals welcome St. Joseph's (Ind.) to Worthen Arena for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
Kelly Packard Quote: "Thursday night provides a valuable opportunity to evaluate our progress, and ability to execute in a game-like atmosphere. Our performance will guide our practice planning prior to our home opener against Illinois State."
About St. Joseph's: St. Joseph's is coached by Brandon Turner. The Puma's ended the season 9-18 overall in 2010-11 with a 6-13 conference record. St. Joseph's was led by guard Tatiana Ortiz who averaged 15.0 points per game last season and had 20 blocked shots. St. Joseph's is located in Rensselaer, Ind.
Scouting the Cardinals: Ball State returns nine players from last year's squad while welcoming four freshmen.
The Cardinals are led by senior captains Amber Crago and Suzanne Grossnickle. 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.
Head Coach Kelly Packard: Enters her fourth season at helm of Ball State women's basketball. Packard during her tenure at Ball State has led the Cardinals to their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory as it handed Tennessee its only first round NCAA Tournament loss in program history. Under Packard's tutelage in 2009, Ball State also captured its third straight Mid-American Conference West Divsion title and earned the school's first MAC Tournament championship.
A Look Ahead: The Ball State women's basketball team will open the 2011-12 season at home for the second straight year as it hosts Illinois State, November 11 at 7 p.m. in Worthen Arena. The non-conference schedule is highlighted by hosting eight games at home and a trip to Wisconsin-Green Bay which is a program that finished ninth in the nation in the 2011 NCAA women's basketball rankings.
