Ball State vs. Miami (Jan. 7) - Ball State statistics
Points - 72
Field goal percentage - 47.5
Three-point percentage - 22.7
Free-throw percentage - 61.1
Rebounds - 29
Assists - 17
Turnovers - 13
Steals - 11
After competing with some of the best teams in the Mid-American Conference for the first seven games of league play, the Ball State women's basketball team will battle with the last-place team in each division this week.
The Cardinals, currently 5-2 in MAC play and leaders of the West Division, will take on the Miami Redhawks (0-7 MAC) and Northern Illinois Huskies (2-4 MAC).
Despite the difference in records, junior guard Candyce Ussery says the Cardinals must focus on the task at hand.
"We don't try to underestimate and teams," she said. "We just follow how they play and not the result."
The bench will likely play a key role if Ball State is to improve to 7-2 in the conference. The Cardinals scored 27 bench points in their last win over Akron while holding the Zips to zero.
The last time Ball State played Miami on Jan. 7, nine players scored in a 72-41 rout.
“We need [Monaco] to produce like she is and [Bennett] to come in and be able to call the plays for somebody that is damn near a foot taller than who she is playing against,” head coach Brady Sallee said.
While another strong performance is to be expected by Sallee, the Cardinals have not traveled well this season with an overall record of 2-6 on the road.
If the Cardinals are to beat Miami for the second time, they will need to get physical defensively like the first meeting. Ball State forced 31 turnovers while allowing 19 points in the second half.
The Redhawks struggle against pressure defenses, as they are last in the MAC in turnover margin at -5.67.
"It's never the same style," Ussery said. "So we always have to prepare for something different."
Ball State's second game of the week will be against Northern Illinois at Worthen Arena. This will be the first time the two teams have met this season, with a rematch scheduled less than a month afterwards.
The Huskies are currently last in the conference in scoring averaging 52.9 points per contest. On the other side however, they allow just 54.8 points per game, which leads the MAC.
Sallee said Ball State must be tougher than it played in its most recent loss to Ohio, where they were outplayed in all phases of the game.
With 11 games remaining overall, the Cardinals are looking to build on their MAC West Division lead and string together some wins.
"We try to always play for ourselves and get better as a team," Ussery said.
The Cardinals' game against the Redhawks will be at 7 p.m. on Jan. 28. They will host the Huskies on Jan. 31 at 2 p.m.
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