There's no doubt emotions will run high on Saturday when Ball State plays Ohio in lone senior Kate Endress' final regular season home game.
Head coach Tracy Roller said she doesn't expect anything but the usual from Endress, but hopes the rest of the team can step up for Endress.
"My expectations are more for the rest of us," Roller said. "Our expectations should be higher."
Endress has been climbing to the top of career records all season long. She enters this game as Ball State's second-leading career scorer with 1,751 points, the 11th-best total in Mid-American Conference history. She recently moved into the top spot for field goals attempted in Ball State history, with 1,478.
Sophomore Becca Bajorek said the team realizes what it needs to do for her.
"Everyone's just starting to realize it and say, 'Hey, let's do it for her because she deserves it,'" Bajorek said.
Roller said it's been sad, but she's just thinking of all the memories she has of Endress.
"You're counting down the days for which I get to coach her," Roller said. "She's a special kid to coach."
Endress may very well play another game in Worthen Arena, but that all depends on seeding in the MAC Tournament.
"I love this place, it's been home for the last four years, so it's definitely something I'm going to try to savor," Endress said. "Anytime I can come out here and play with this group of girls, it's a lot of fun, I love it, and I'm going to make the most of it."
If Ball State (13-12, 9-5 MAC) wins its next two games, it could still get a first-round bye in the tournament with some help. It would need Kent State to lose one of its last two and Eastern Michigan to lose it's final two.
Roller said before the Akron game Sunday she kind of wanted a first-round game to give her team an extra chance to prepare itself. However, after seeing how her team reacted to its bye week, she now would like to get a bye. The Cardinals have shot over 50 percent in both games since the bye week.
"The only thing we can do is take care of our things," Roller said.
This is the first time this season the Cards have faced Ohio (11-14, 7-7), which is not normal for a team at the end of its season.
"Ohio's got so many players and they have two really good freshman that our kids have never seen before," Roller said. She added that makes it easier for her team to focus, though.
After Wednesday's 81-60 win over Toledo, Bajorek said the team knows now is the time to make a push.
"Everyone's just kind of realizing this is kind of the end, and if we want to do what we've got to do it's got to be now," Bajorek said.
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