When Ball State and Wagner open their season on Friday at the Seton Hall Tournament, both teams will be trying to overcome the graduation of two major scoring threats.
Just like Ball State will be getting used to not having Johna Goff and Jessica Reiter, Wagner will also be without two of its top scorers from last season.
"They're trying to find themselves just like we are," head coach Tracy Roller said. "They play hard, we're going to have to match their intensity and match their effort.
"They're one of those teams that are just going to outwork you."
With the loss of Goff and Reiter, Ball State will need some underclassmen to step up and become scoring threats. Lone senior Kate Endress returns as the Cardinals' leading scorer from last season, when she averaged 18.8 points.
Early on junior Raechelle Hampton looks like she will be one of the players to step up.
"I'm excited about what she's done so far," Roller said of Hampton, who averaged 19.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in the Cardinals' two exhibition games.
Ball State can also look to junior Dana Collins, who should be fully recovered from an injury that kept her quiet most of last season. Sophomore Kelsey Corbin, who along with Hampton and Endress have guaranteed their starting position, will look to improve on last season's effort that got better as the season progressed.
"I think we have two or three others that could step up, then it makes us very hard to guard," Roller said.
Wagner still returns one of its best players, junior Joy Gallagher, who led the NCAA in 3-pointers made per game with 3.5. Roller said Endress will guard her and that contesting her shot at all times is key.
"She can really shot it from anywhere," Roller said. "Her range is when she steps on the floor."
Roller said the team has been working on rebounding and on-the-ball defense, two things she felt the team didn't do well in its exhibition games, this week in practice. While the BSU has seen a tape of Wagner in its exhibition game, Roller expects the Cards will need to be ready to adjust during the game since the Seahawks have seven freshman.
Ball State will face the winner or loser of Seton Hall and LaSalle on Saturday.
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