What the women's basketball team calls "Hell Week" is almost over, and the team has remained unscathed so far.
The first three games saw the Cardinals squeak out wins over Eastern Michigan and Miami by a total of four points. They also defeated Northern Illinois on the road.
With the last game being arguably the easiest, the Cardinals could achieve their goal of going 4-0 in "Hell Week." A young, inexperienced Akron team remains the last test of will for Ball State.
Head coach Tracy Roller compared the Akron team to the renovation Ball State went through under former coach Brenda Oldfield, who helped pull the Cardinals out of the MAC cellar.
"Anything could happen," Roller said. "When you are a young team with a new coach, the players are like sponges. They take everything in and you can tell they are going to continue to get better every game."
With the team's break on Thursday to recuperate for Saturday's game at Akron, Roller said she had not had time to think of the Zips yet, since the team had just gotten back into Muncie at 3:30 a.m. Thursday.
Roller said a possible mental letdown is more of a concern than Akron, as she said she hopes the team can continue its high level of play.
"(A letdown) is always a concern," Roller said, "but I thought after close games against Eastern Michigan and Miami we might have a letdown. But the team just keeps proving me wrong."
With freshman point guard Dana Collins questionable for Saturday's game due to a flared bunion, Roller said the team is already seeing the physical breakdown from the pressures of "Hell Week."
But whether or not Collins plays, Roller said the team is going to have to be ready to play and avoid the mental anxiety another down-to-the-wire game would bring the team.
"Emotionally, I don't think we can stand another close game," Roller said. "We've already been through so much. It would take a lot out of us. But 'Hell Week' is going to be a good test of our character. But now it's down to heart."
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