Refocused and recharged after a lengthy lay-off between games, Ball State will hit the road for a matchup against Mid-American Conference opponent Akron inside James A. Rhodes Arena at 5 p.m. tonight.
The last time Ball State (9-14) took the court was Feb. 5. The outcome wasn't what anyone expected, an 61-46 loss to Bowling Green.
Coach Kelly Packard believes the scheduling has benefited her team in multiple facets.
"The first game was mid-November and it's a long season," Packard said. "You get to February and you're in need of some mental space from the game in order to really put things into perspective. The body is certainly getting a little bit of a break too."
A break couldn't of come at a better time for the woeful Cardinals. They're riding a three-game skid, and are averaging 55.3 points per game contrary to their opponents' 68.6.
Senior forward Emily Maggert accumulated a total of three points in her last outing, well under her season average of 15 per game.
Packard said she isn't overwhelming her club with pressure because it will lead to a negative scenario.
"They don't respond to putting a load of pressure on them," Packard said. "As their leader, I have to stay direct, demanding and nurturing. You have to be nurturing to a team as young as this group is. If you keep loads of expectations on top of them, that's a tough recipe."
The Zips (10-12) are watching their season come crashing down. They've lost six of their last eight games, and have dropped their last three home conference games.
Sophomore forward Rachel Tecca leads Akron in scoring, averaging just over 17 points per contest. Packard said she is the number one focus for today's game.
"Their offensive sets flow through her, so we've spent a lot of time on positioning to subtract that as consistently as [we] can," she said.
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