In what was possibly the biggest game in the history of Ball State women's basketball, the Cardinals defeated Toledo last year at Toledo to secure the Mid-American Conference West title for the first time. If the Rockets had won, they would be the ones with a new banner flying in their gym instead.
Toledo (10-5 overall, 3-1 MAC) averaged more than 3,000 fans at home games last year, and its players have revenge on their minds, giving UT a reputation as one of the toughest places at which to play in the MAC. Ball State will make another trip to Toledo on Saturday.
"It's one of those places that you love to play in, but hate to coach in," Roller said. "(Toledo head coach) Mark Ehlen will have them ready, and I'm sure it is going to be tough."
The Cardinals (11-4, 5-0) are fresh off a 25-point victory over Bowling Green on Wednesday night. But while Roller was pleased with her team's 96-point output on offense, she said she is more worried about Toledo's defense and the way it has been shutting opponents down this season.
"We won't be able to score against Toledo like we did against Bowling Green," said Roller, whose team has won six straight. "They are holding teams to around 59 points a game, so needless to say, we're not going to have a 90-point game."
Forward Tia Davis has led the Rockets this season and averaged more than 21 points in her last four games, leaving the Cardinals with one big defensive key - stopping Davis from scoring.
"She's a scorer and a penetrator," junior guard Johna Goff said. "We have to back off her and let her do what she's going to do outside, and then if she starts hitting those shots, we're going to have to change it up."
Goff was recently selected as MAC West Player of the Week for netting 25 and 22 points in wins last week.
But it's the Cardinal defense that may hold the fate of the team, as it has been streaky at best lately. Against Bowling Green, the team gave up a 15-0 lead to fall behind by as many as six points before halftime.
"We've got to put a complete game together, especially against a team like Toledo," Goff said, "Or we're going to get killed because we didn't play defense."
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