BSU Women's Basketball Season Preview

The Ball State Women’s Basketball Team has been looking up this year, and so have its fans – up to a billboard. Head Coach Tracy Roller’s daily stint on a scissor lift next to a billboard earlier this month is just one of the team’s attention-grabbing stunts. And if the Cardinals are hoping to attract attention this year, they’re off to a good start. A preseason poll by coaches and institutional voters has Ball State as the 07-08 preseason favorite to win both the MAC West Division and the MAC Tournament Title. Coming off a 24-7 season in which the Lady Cards tied a school record in wins and advanced to the Women’s National Invitational Tournament, there’s no reason to expect anything less than greatness from the 07-08 Ball State Women’s Basketball Team.

The Cardinals welcome back seven letterwinners from last year’s squad, including four starters. Two of them, senior Julie DeMuth and junior Porchia Green, have been named to the preseason All-MAC West Division team. Ball State is the only school boasting multiple representatives on the team. DeMuth’s stellar all-around play last season earned her First Team All-MAC honors. She led the Cardinals in scoring (15.5 PPG) and rebounding (8.8 RPG) last year, while Green finished first on the team in steals (68) and second in assists (112). Other returning starters include senior Lisa Rusche, a formidable post player who finished second in the MAC in blocks (49) last year, and sophomore Audrey McDonald, an All-MAC Freshman Team selection a year ago who knocked down 40% of her shots from three point range.

Filling the shoes of standout guard Kelsey Corbin at the point guard position will most likely be junior Guard Kiley Jarrett. A key reserve last year, Jarrett dished out 62 assists to finish third on the team. The Cardinals are also looking for contributions from junior Dana Moorman and redshirt freshman Kyleigh Jones this year. New faces to the program include junior transfer Danielle Gratton, as well as freshmen Shannon Klei and Emily Maggert.

Although the Lady Cards lost Corbin to graduation, they didn’t lose her for good. Just months after leading the Cardinals to a berth in the WNIT, Corbin returns to the organization in a management role. Roller recently named Corbin as Director of Basketball Operations for Women. This is an excellent move by Roller, as the team will still have a strong connection to the player who was its heart and soul. Corbin’s leadership skills that she displayed on the court the last four years will be utilized through her new position, and Cardinal fans should be happy to have her back.

Cardinal fans should also be looking forward to a season that features an impressive schedule. In addition to their 16 conference games, Ball State will welcome competition from 13 non-conference schools. And competition is what they will receive; four of these 13 teams advanced to the postseason last year, including Louisville and Temple, who finished the 06-07 season with 27 and 25 wins, respectively.

Excited yet? I certainly am as the Cardinals open their schedule at home against aforementioned Louisville on November 10. Louisville is the first Big East school in program history to make the trip to Muncie. If you simply can’t wait that long to see the Lady Cards in action, then check out their exhibition game against the Hoosier Lady Stars at Worthen Arena next week. The game is on November 2nd and starts at 7:30 p.m. GO CARDS!