One of the things the Ball State University women's basketball team has prided itself on this year is its ability to respond positively to adversity.
The Cardinals will put their resolve to the test after dropping their first game of the season, a 82-72 decision at Illinois State University Wednesday night. Cardinals coach Tracy Roller said the team re-focused in Thursday afternoon's practice.
"Getting back early in the morning from Illinois State, I was very impressed with the way the kids stepped up and responded in practice," Roller said. "When we win, this team does a good job of moving on and not celebrating too much. I think we've done the same thing with the loss. We've taken it and learned from it."
The Cardinals can't afford to invest a lot of time thinking about the loss. Ball State will face Valpariaso University at the 2006 Hoosier Hoopla in Fort Wayne.
Senior guard Kelsey Corbin said the team is anticipating the chance to redeem itself this weekend.
"Nobody likes to lose, especially on a team that's full of competitors," Corbin said. "When you do lose, it's hard not to keep that in the back of your head because you want to win so badly. So getting back to the court is something that really helps us out."
While Ball State missed out on setting a program-first against Illinois State, the Cardinals will get the chance to do something they have never achieved before in Sunday's match-up. Ball State has never beaten Valpariaso in the program's history. Corbin said the team is determined to change that.
"That gives us another goal to look at," Corbin said. "Coach Roller has really emphasized little goals making up our big goal this season, and this is another goal for us - to beat Valpo. So it's very exciting to enter a game where there's so much at stake."
Corbin, who attended Northrop High School in Fort Wayne, will be playing in her home town for the last time in her collegiate career. She said she's excited about having the opportunity to play in front of her prep fans.
"It's always nice to go back home and play," Corbin said. "There will be a lot of people there who normally don't get to see me play. So the game will hold a special value to me, but the biggest value is having the chance to beat Valpo."
Last year the Cardinals also started the year at 5-0. However, the rest of the season the team went 12-12 for a final record of 17-12. Roller said she believes this year will be different.
"We're not a team that likes to lose," Roller said. "We're not used to losing, and that's a good thing. We're just going to learn from our loss, and rebound for the rest of the season. And the first step is obviously Sunday against Valpo."
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