Ball State University Athletics
WBB Hosts In-State Rival Valparaiso Sunday at 1 p.m.
December 15, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Ball State (5-5, MAC 0-0) vs.
Valparaiso (2-7, Horizon League 0-0)
Sunday, 1 p.m. (EST)
Worthen Arena (Capacity 11,500)
Muncie, Ind.
Internet: www.ballstatesports.com
Radio: WERK (104.9 FM) - Jay Garrison
WCRD (91.3) - Donnie Kolakowski and Sean Stewart
Ball State Sports Link: WBB vs. Valparaiso
Scouting Ball State: The Ball State women's basketball team is coming off of a 59-55 victory over Austin Peay last Sunday. Freshman guard Brittany Carter led the Cardinals with 17 points with a 4-of-6 shooting effort from behind the three point arc. Senior forward and co-captain Suzanne Grossnickle recorded her first double-double of the season with a 14-point, 11-rebound performance. Valparaiso is the first opponent the Cardinals will face this week. Ball State enters Sunday's contest with an overall record of 5-5.
Scouting Valparaiso: The Crusaders enter Sunday's contest with an overall record of 2-7, the last game Valparaiso won was a 64-43 decision December 6th versus IPFW. The only other win for the Crusaders was against Indiana-Northwest November 30th. The Valparaiso women's basketball team is led by Tabitha Gerardot who is averaging 11.4 points per game while teammate Mallory x-Ladd also averages double figures with 10.5 ppg. Ashley Varner leads the Crusaders defensively with 9.1 rebounds per contest. Valparaiso is part of the Horizon League Conference and marks the fourth opponent from the Horizon League the Cardinals will have faced this season. Ball State has played Wright State, Detroit Mercy and Butler so far this season.
The Coaches: Ball State head coach Kelly Packard is in her fourth season at Ball State . . . Packard's overall record at Ball State is 54-52 (.509), while her Mid-American Conference mark is 25-24 . . . Valparaiso's head coach is Keith Freeman . . . he is in his 15th season at Valparaiso . . . he is the school's all-time winningest coach with a record of 278-235 (.542) at Valpo.
The Series: The Cardinals return home to Worthen Arena Sunday as they take on Valparaiso . . . Sunday's game is only the 13th meeting all-time between Ball State and Valparaiso . . . The Cardinals lead the all-time series record 8-4. Ball State has won its last three meetings against the Crusaders. The Cardinals pulled off a 66-52 win at Valparaiso last year at the Athletics Recreation Center.
