The Ball State University women's basketball team takes its perfect Mid-American Conference record to Dekalb, Ill., to face Northern Illinois University at 7 p.m.
The Cardinals (11-6, 4-0 MAC) are riding a four game winning streak - defeating Eastern Michigan University, Western Michigan University, Central Michigan Universities and the University of Toledo.
The Northern Illinois Huskies (8-9, 3-1 MAC) have started off their MAC conference play against the same opponents that Ball State has played, but lost to Toledo 68-76.
Coach Kelly Packard said it's "unique" that Ball State and Northern Illinois have played they same teams, and she has looked at the match-ups between the teams.
"It has been somewhat of a benefit for the defensive match-ups," Packard said.
The Cardinals will have to match-up to a Northern Illinois team that has four starters averaging more than nine points per game and a deep bench of reserves.
"[Northern Illinois] is about eight players deep, as minutes go," Packard said.
The Huskies have been involved in close games in their past five wins, three of which they won in overtime, defeating the University of Illinois-Chicago 85-79, Western Michigan 71-65 and Eastern Michigan 69-62.
Although Northern Illinois has been winning close games this season, the Huskies have not beat the Cardinals since 2004. Ball State has won 10 straight against Northern Illinois and 15 out of the last 16 meetings.
In order for Ball State to keep that winning dominance against the Huskies, the Cardinals will have to slow down Northern Illinois's sophomore center Ebony Ellis. Ellis has averaged 13 points and 10.5 rebounds a game during the past four match-ups.
"The plan is we are going to have to be very physical," Packard said. "We'll have to match their physicality. I think it's the key to the game."
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