During the course of a college basketball season, games have a tendency of blurring together.
There are rare times, however, whena a regular-season game looms a little bit larger. That's the way it will be when Ball State University travels to Bowling Green State University tonight.
Cardinals forward Julie DeMuth said her team has been waiting for this game all season.
"At the beginning of the [Mid-American Conference] season that's all everyone talked about," DeMuth said. "I'm just relieved that we're finally here now. They're a very good team and they're ranked. We've been playing really well lately, so it should be a good game."
The Falcons (20-2, 9-0) are undefeated in the MAC and currently occupy the top spot in the East Division. They're 18th in The Associated Press poll and 17th in the ESPN/USA Today's Coaches' Poll.
The Cardinals (17-3, 8-1) are the top team in the West Division and the only other team in the conference to receive votes in either national poll.
While it's the first time Ball State has played the underdog role since early in the season, Cardinals' coach Tracy Roller said she wasn't ready to count her team out.
"I think everybody knows the ramifications of winning and losing," Roller said. "But we have nothing to lose. Everybody and their mother doesn't think we have a chance. Their starting five is probably the best that's ever played in this league, but I think we match up pretty well."
Statistically, the Falcons have dominated the MAC play throughout the year. Bowling Green is ranked No. 1 or 2 in 11 of the 16 team statistics categories. DeMuth said Bowling Green is the gold standard the rest of the MAC had measured itself against not only this season, but a few of the previous seasons as well.
"Everybody wants to be where they are," DeMuth said. "It's been like that the past couple years. To beat a team like that, we just need to focus on what they can do and do our best to take them out of it. Bowling Green has a lot of strengths, so it's going to be important that we come out strong and have a good game."
Throughout the season, Roller has stressed the importance of looking at every game the same. Though an argument could be made that this is the most important game so far this season, the coach has maintained that it is just another game.
"All year we've taken it one day at a time and one game at a time," Roller said. "I like to look at the big picture. To get to the big picture, you have to take care of the small things. Beating Bowling Green is just another goal this team has had."
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