Ball State University Athletics
WBB Travels to Miami University Saturday
January 26, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Ball State (7-13, MAC 2-5) vs.
Miami (15-5, MAC 5-2)
Saturday, 12 p.m. (EST)
Millett Hall (Capacity 9,200)
Internet: www.ballstatesports.com
Radio: WERK (104.9 FM) - Jay Garrison
WCRD (91.3) - Donnie Kolakowski and Sean Stewart
Television: Sports Time Ohio
Scouting Ball State: The Cardinals enter Saturday's contest with a 7-13 overall record and are 2-5 in the Mid-American Conference, they have lost their last four games. Jazmin Hitchens leads Ball State with 10.7 points and 4.2 rebounds, while Brittany Carter is averaging 9.8 points per game and 3.5 rebounds. Ball State's most recent loss was to MAC leader Bowling Green by a score of 63-52. Despite the loss Ball State had 10 players score in the game with freshman guard Brittany Carter leading the way with an 11-point performance for the Cardinals. Shelbie Justice added nine points on the night. Senior center and co-captain Suzanne Grossnickle had seven rebounds, while Carter tallied six boards and four Cardinals had four apiece.
Scouting Miami: The RedHawks enter Saturday's contest with a 15-5 overall record and are 5-2 in the Mid-American Conference, they just recently lost to cross divisional opponent Toledo Wednesday night 79-66 at Savage Arena. Miami University has three players averaging double digits Courtney Osborn (18.6), Kirsten Olowinski (11.7) and Maggie Boyer (11.5). Olowinski is currently averaging a double-double with 10.5 rebounds per contest. The key to the RedHawks success seems to be the glass as they out-rebound their opponents 41.2-to-36.8 per contest.
The Coaches: Ball State head coach Kelly Packard is in her fourth season at Ball State . . . Packard's overall record at Ball State is 56-60 (.482), while her Mid-American Conference mark is 27-28 . . . Maria Fantanarosa is in her 14th season at Miami University. . . Fantanarosa's overall record with the RedHawks is 212-194 and owns a MAC record of 112-103.
The Series: The game against Miami Saturday marks the 59th meeting between Ball State and Miami . . . The RedHawks lead the all-time series 39-19 . . . The Cardinals won their last meeting against Miami at Worthen Arena by a score of 66-49 last season . . . Ball State suffered a 69-54 loss in 2009-10 the last time it faced the RedHawks in Millett Hall . . . Although Saturday's game marks a cross divisional contest, Miami is the closest MAC school in proximity to the Cardinals.
