If Ball State can break its three-game losing streak on Wednesday when it plays Miami, that won't be the only streak which comes to an end. The RedHawks' current 10-game winning streak would also be history.
There will be plenty on the line in the matchup at Millett Hall. Miami (18-6 overall, 12-1 Mid-American Conference) can clinch the regular season East Division title with a win, while Ball State (12-12; 7-6) can clinch a first-round home game in the MAC Tournament if it wins.
While the Cardinals have struggled to get wins lately, the team believes that it's still in a good position heading into March.
"We have to not get discouraged about where we are because we know we've improved a ton," head coach Tracy Roller said. "I really feel like we're in a good place; defensively we're getting much better, we're improving offensively, all we need is just that justification by getting a win."
"We're just focusing on us and what we have to do and we know we're getting better each and every day," senior Jessica Reiter said.
The matchup will feature two teams that rely on their offense to win. The RedHawks are the league's best offensive team, averaging 77.2 points per game, while the Cards' rank fourth at 73.1.
"We can match them offensively," Roller said. "We can run with them, we can definitely score with them, and I think that if we play as hard as we did against Eastern (Michigan) I really like our chances."
Miami gets almost all of its points from starters, with all but one averaging in double figures. Senior Colleen Day, a preseason All-MAC selection, leads the team with 14.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. The other starters who score in double figures are sophomore Cindi Merrill with 13.5, senior Kim Lancaster with 12.9 and freshman Amanda Jackson with 11.9. Junior Nicki Motto, the other starter, is just shy of double digits with 9.8 points per game and leads the team in assists with 4.5 per game.
"Their starting five is by far the best in the MAC," Roller said. "They can hurt you in so many ways."
Of all the Miami players, Merrill worries Roller the most because she is a "physical, penetrating, great-bodied 3-point shooter" who can do it all.
"We can usually stop penetration, but we can't always stop a 3-point, or we can stop the 3-point but not the penetration, and we sure can't stop a guard that can do those two things and rebound," Roller said.
The Cardinals don't average near as many players in double figures, but they do have two players who top the MAC charts. Junior Kate Endress is averaging 19.3 points per game, which makes her the leading scorer among active players in the MAC, and Reiter tops the rebounding charts with her average of 10.3 boards per game.
"We're right on the cusp of really doing something special," Roller said. "I just hope it comes out at Miami."
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