When the Ball State University women's basketball team plays Indiana University Saturday, it will attempt to fight back in a rivalry it has been dominated in for almost 30 years.
The Cardinals beat Indiana three times in the 1970s but haven't defeated the Hoosiers since a 57-47 home victory in March 1978. In that stretch, Ball State has dropped 17 consecutive games in the instate rivalry by 24 points each contest, including four of at least 30 points.
Cardinals' coach Tracy Roller would certainly like to snap that streak Saturday but, she said, her team will relish the opportunity to play the underdog role against Indiana.
"Rivalry games are always fun to play in, and as a competitor you're always excited about playing a competitive opponent," Roller said. "All I've been hearing about is that we're the favorites, and we're going to be the underdog. I think our team is just going to enjoy that role because with the expectations of other people, it might be the last team we're truly in it the rest of this season."
Ball State looked like it might end its streak against the Hoosiers last year, when the team lost 67-56 at Indiana's Assembly Hall.
The Cardinals held a four-point lead with seven minutes to play but were unable to maintain the advantage.
Senior forward Lisa Rusche said there's a lot of motivation throughout her team after last year's loss.
"When you go against Indiana, you're going against the kids you were recruited against," Rusche said. "You always want to prove you chose the right college team to go to. So it was definitely disappointing last year."
As disappointing as last year's defeat was, junior point guard Kiley Jarrett, a Bloomington native, said the hurt didn't fully hit the team until after last year's NCAA selection show. In hindsight, she said, beating the Hoosiers last season might have been enough to earn Ball State an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"Nobody knows what would've happened if that game went our way," Jarrett, who has two high school teammates on Indiana, said. "We're focusing on this game and this game only, and hopefully this game will bring the fans out for us. A win will look very good [on our resume]."
After losing to nationally ranked University of Louisville to begin the season, Roller said her team doesn't want to fall through on another chance to earn an important win for the Ball State program.
"When we finished the Louisville game, a lot of us knew we let an opportunity go," Roller said. "I don't think the team wants to let another opportunity go."
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
