The Ball State University women's basketball team left Central Michigan on Wednesday with a disappointing one-point loss. Despite the defeat, Ball State has a chance to earn the No. 2 seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, meaning it would get a first-round bye.
"We went up there and didn't play our best," coach Tracy Roller said. "But we are still in great shape to get the bye or play at home."
Ball State (15-10, 8-6 MAC) remains one game behind Western Michigan for second place in the division. The Cardinals have secured a first-round game at home, but will need a win to stay in the hunt for a bye when they travel to play West Division-leading Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
The Cardinals fell to the Eagles earlier this season at home, 66-58. Point guard Kelsey Corbin said Ball State is focused on a win.
"Obviously we're pretty angry after that loss to Central because we know that was a game that was within our grasp and we should have taken it," Corbin said. "Eastern might have their hands full. But they're a great team and we're going to have to execute."
Roller said the team is focused on taking control of its two games to finish the season. She said the Cards' defense was important in the previous meeting between the two teams.
"We had great looks and did a good job on their go to player - [Ryan] Coleman," Roller said. "And we executed really well. So when you have that confidence going into a game, you just feel really good about your chances."
One area where Ball State has excelled at during the conference season is free throws. The Cards shot 62 percent from the charity stripe during their 11 non-conference games. They are shooting 75 percent during the MAC season.
Kelsey Corbin has shown considerable improvement from the free throw line this season. A career 55 percent free throw shooter in her first two seasons, Corbin is averaging 79 percent this year. She has missed only two free throws in 39 attempts during MAC games.
"I just have a lot of confidence in myself and I think my team has that confidence in me," Corbin said. "And that helps a lot knowing that you have people behind you who believe in you."
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