For most of the student population, Winter Break provides a good opportunity to get off campus and catch up with family and hometown friends.-á
However, the Ball State University women's basketball players didn't receive such luxuries. Instead, the Cardinals played six games and had countless practices over the past three weeks.-á
The hard work did pay major dividends for the Cardinals, who won five of six contests, including a statement victory at Xavier University, a title in the SPC Aeropostale Holiday Classic and a 2-0 record to start off the Mid-American Conference season.
"I think we have taken a huge step in the right direction," senior point guard Kelsey Corbin said. "Five wins will obviously give you that feeling, but a lot of people stepped up and showed their worth to this team. I think everyone on this team has made leaps and bounds from where we were before Christmas break."
Hoosiers hand Cards second loss of year-á
After opening the season with a win at the University of Michigan, Ball State was looking for its second road win against a Big Ten school in 2006, this time against Indiana University. Instead, Ball State received its second loss of the year, a 67-56 defeat by the Hoosiers.
The Cardinals were within a single possession of Indiana twice in the final three minutes before losing by an eleven-point margin. Though the loss was disappointing, Ball State coach Tracy Roller said the Cardinals learned a lot from the defeat.
"The loss at Indiana was definitely disappointing for us," Roller said. "But I think the things we learned from losing to Indiana really carried over into the Xavier game. We didn't want to lose, obviously, but we were able to learn from the things that we did wrong."
Streak started with statement win at Xavier-á
The Cardinals didn't dwell on their loss at Indiana for long. Four days later, Ball State beat Xavier 69-63, earning one of its biggest wins of the year. The contest was similar to Ball State's affair at Indiana with both teams battling until the last few minutes. However, junior forward Julie DeMuth said the lessons learned in the loss at Indiana helped propel Ball State to win at Xavier.
"We knew that we should've beaten Indiana, so we didn't want to lose to Xavier," DeMuth said. "Xavier is a really good team, and they should do well this year. So to be able to get the win, especially playing on their floor, was a big boost for us."
Ball State brings back hardware
Fresh off its win against Xavier, the Cardinals headed into the SPC Aeropostale Holiday Classic in Jersey City, N.J. with high expectations.
Led by junior forward Julie DeMuth's 26 points and 10 rebounds, Ball State defeated Saint Peter's Jesuit College 75-65 in the semifinal. The next day, Ball State had four starters score in double figures as the Cardinals won the championship against the University of Charlotte, 82-72.
DeMuth said the entire experience, basketball and non-basketball related, was a thrill for her and the team.
"We got to see New York and hang out as a team, so that was a lot of fun for us," DeMuth said. "But the best part about the trip was that we were able to take care of business and win the championship against a very good team in Charlotte. We've divided this season into little goals, and that was definitely one of them."
Cards win first two games in MAC-áWest
Ball State opened its conference schedule with two home wins, an 80-59 victory over the University of Toledo and 76-60 affair against Western Michigan University.
Senior Kelsey Corbin scored 14 points and added 11 assists against the Rockets, then followed that performance by dropping 10 points and 8 assists on the Broncos. However, the Cardinals' point guard said the team's play in the two games was much more important than her own.
"I really can't be any more happy with the way we've played starting off the conference season," Corbin said. "Sometimes you go into games and you worry about the expectations that other people have for you, but we've completely relished in those expectations. That's special because when you get that, it's something that teams all across the nation want to be able to do."
Building for March
Ball State is off to a program-best 11-2 start and has looked impressive in the non-conference portion of the season. Corbin said the team's play and record-setting start leaves the Cardinals with high expectations for the rest of the year.
"I'm hoping that we don't have any letdowns at all," Corbin said. "That's something that all of us have set our minds on, and we're giving everything that we have to make sure that this is a special year."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
