Ball State University Athletics
All-Access: Grande's Grand Debut
January 27, 2016 | Women's Basketball
Point guard is probably the most complicated position on the basketball court. You touch the ball on virtually every possession and most plays begin with you.
That's what makes the early success of Cardinals freshman Carmen Grande all the more impressive. The Spaniard ranks 37th nationally in assists per game, third among all freshmen and second in the MAC. She had eight assists against Florida, nine versus UMass and Miami and a career best 11 at Evansville. For a while, she was averaging nearly three assist per turnover.
Grande's run isn't just impressive in a vacuum, however. At 5.3 assists per game, Grande's averaging more assists than any Cardinal in 15 years. Shala Crook dished out 5.8 per game as a senior in 2001-02. Grande's currently just the fifth freshman in school history to lead her team in the category.
Also one of the top thieves in the MAC this season, Grande's positioned herself to jockey for conference Freshman-of-the-Year honors.
But that doesn't mean everything has come up easy and roses for the freshman. Grande still has plenty of areas of her game to refine and works everyday to keep getting better and turn herself into an all-around threat.
To hear from Grande and her coaches, check out this video from Ball State All-Access.
Ball State is next in action at home this Saturday vs. Ohio. Tip-off between the MAC's two divisional leaders is slated for 4pm. For more information about the Cardinals, follow the team on social media @BallStateWBB or @BallStateSports.
