DEKALB, Ill. - It might have been a little over due, but theBall State women's basketball team played with a special kind ofchemistry in their 80-71 win over the Northern IllinoisHuskies.
"I just don't know how to explain it, there was just an energyabout us from practice on Thursday and Friday," head coach TracyRoller said. "Then the bus ride (on Friday), I looked back, and ourbus is just different, it's got couches in the back and our wholeteam was back there."
The energy they showed was something that has been lacking in somany of the Cardinals losses this season.
"That's something we've missed all year, and that's somethingwe've been focusing on getting back," senior Johna Goff said."Everybody is capable of having that kind of energy, the upperclassmen brought it and everybody followed."
Before the game started, junior Kate Endress paced the halfcourt line back and fourth with a look of determination on herface. It was that determination that led her to score 21 points andpull down eight boards.
"You just kind of have to put things in perspective," Endresssaid. "It was do or die for us today, and I'm really proud ofeveryone on our team for coming and playing hard and realizing thisis it."
While Endress led the team in scoring like she has 19 timesbefore, the team also got production from the other four starterswho each finished in double figures. She also was in foul troubleduring the game and ended up fouling out with 2:07 remaining, butsomeone always stepped up in her place.
"For the first time in a long time, it wasn't just Kate, it wasa team effort," Roller said. "When Kate fouled out, I still knew wewere going to get it done.
"Sometimes as a coach you just have to believe," Roller said."These guys after a six game losing streak, they've never losttrust in each other, and they've never lost trust in ourstaff."
Because of that trust, Ball State now has new life and will lookto keep the winning going when they face No. 1 seed Miami onWednesday.
"That's why they call it March Madness, anything can happen,"Roller said. "My kids made me believe that tonight."
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