As the end of the basketball season approaches, there can often be a tendency for players to get complacent with practice and games.
The women's basketball team has tried to avoid falling into this trap by creating drills and incentives for good play. Ball State coach Tracy Roller created a practice drill where the players compete for a starting spot. She also instituted a system where if a player shoots below 70 percent from the free throw line in a game, then that player must shoot 100 free throws in the next practice.
"I'm seeing results so I'm happy about that," Roller said. "Anytime you can put competition into your practice it's a good thing."
With these changes in place, the Cardinals have won two straight games and five of their last seven. Ball State sits in third place in the Mid-American Conference West Division, one game behind Western Michigan.
The Cards play two road games this week, against Central Michigan tonight and at Eastern Michigan Saturday.
Roller said she is somewhat worried about traveling on the road having played three straight home games.
"We've been kind of spoiled here at home," she said. "Central's got their backs to the wall - they need a big win. We had a lot of trouble with them at their place last year."
Ball State (15-9, 8-5 MAC) escaped with a one point win at Central Michigan last season. The Cards have won 10 straight matchups, including a 57-47 win at home earlier this year.
The Chippewas are second in the conference in scoring defense, giving up 56.3 points per game.
"We're going to have to rebound well, we have to continue matching their scoring and stopping transition," Roller said.
Tina Bolte led Ball State with 17 points and hit five 3-pointers in a win over Western Michigan Saturday. Bolte said the Cards need to continue playing well.
"I think that the way we competed really shows a lot," Bolte said. "Maybe we weren't playing our best but we were competing. And that's how we have to finish."
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