When the Western Michigan Broncos got off to their best start in school history with a 7-0 conference record, Ball State was sitting at 5-3 in conference play and looked to be a long shot to win the West Division. Wednesday, however, when the Cardinals (12-9, 7-3 Mid-American Conference) travel to Kalamazoo, Mich. to take on the Broncos (13-8, 8-2), who have dropped two of their last three, they will have the chance to forgo a tie for first place in the West.
"It's just unbelievable to think that the past that we've had -- the tribulations we've been through and the adversity -- we can still win the West," BSU coach Tracy Roller said. "We go up there and beat (Western) and beat Kent, we're right in the mix."
Western, though, will be no easy task, as the Broncos have the best scoring offense in the West, averaging 74.6 points per game.
"Western is one of those teams that can put up some pretty good offensive numbers," Roller said.
The Broncos have three guards averaging in double figures, including league-leading junior Casey Rost at 20.2 points per game. Freshman Carrie Moore adds 12.4 and junior Kelly Koerber 11.9, while Maria Jilian is close to double figures with 9.7 points. Senior Lori Crisman leads the team in rebounds, averaging seven per game.-รก
"We can guard Jilian, I think we can hang with Rost, but Carrie Moore is a lot more physical then any of our guards," Roller said. "So we're going to have to really do a good job on her on the boards."
The Cards will rely on their improving defense in order to stay in the game against the Broncos. Roller plans to mix it up defensively, playing both man-to-man and zone.
"We're not bad at either one, and we're not great at either one, but when we mix it up we're pretty good," Roller said about her team's defenses.
Western's defense may also be tested when the Cardinals bring in the second-leading scorer in the MAC -- junior Kate Endress, who averages 19.1 points -- and two others who average in double figures. Senior Johna Goff is averaging 13.4, and after her 15-point performance against Northern Illinois, senior Jessica Reiter is averaging a double-double with 10 points and 10.9 rebounds, which tops the MAC rebounding charts.
"They're definitely must win games for us," sophomore Dana Collins said. "Knowing that, going into the games we'll go at it better with more intensity and desire to win it."
Some Cardinals have even more desire because the last time these two teams faced each other was in the 2003 MAC Championship game. Western won 81-76, sending it to the NCAA Tournament and the Cardinals to the WNIT.
"I think with the way this season has been going a lot of people are focused on getting this win for the west (division race), but a lot of us upperclassmen that were here last year, know that we owe them a little bit," Goff said.
Wherever the Cardinals focus is, Roller feels her team is ready to hit the road for a four-game stretch, which features either first or second-place teams in each division.
"I think we're at our aggressive, mentally tough best," Roller said. "That's why I feel really confident about our February."
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