Johna Goff's accomplishments speak volumes about her, and volumeis exactly what Goff uses as the vocal team leader for the women'sbasketball team. Teammates describe her as loud and crazy. Headcoach Tracy Roller calls her extremely vocal and emotional.
"She'll tell you where she wants you to be and she'll get youthere quickly," Roller said. "She stepped up in that role alot."
After the graduation of Tamara Bowie, who was the go-to scorerin previous years, Goff will now be looked to fill her shoes on thecourt.
"I think Johna realizes that this is her year," Roller said.
Her year has already started off great. Before even showing herstuff on the court, Goff was named to the preseasonAll-Mid-American Conference West Division team.
"She started off her career here with a bang," Roller said aboutGoff being selected to the All-MAC team. "She had 36 points herfirst game as a freshman, so people knew about her, but it kind ofgot overshadowed by Bowie I think for those first three years.There's really, really good players, individuals, on the West sideand to be one of only five, I think it says a lot of what peoplethink of her."
Although this is her first time being named to the preseasonAll-MAC team, it's not the first time big things are being expectedof her on the court. She made an immediate impact her freshmanseason, after playing in all 28 games and starting nine times, shewas named the MAC Freshman of the Year. The following year shestarted in all 32 games and led the team in 3-point field goalsmade and attempted.
Last season Goff continued her offensive role, being named tothe All-MAC second team at the end of the season. She averaged 15points a game including 24 double figure games. Her threat frombehind the line continued as she had 2.5 three-point shots per gameranking her first in the MAC and 29th in the nation.
Goff's hard work has started to show in the record books. Lastseason she became Ball State's career leader in 3-point field goalsmade and attempted. Her name also appears in career records asninth in field goals made, seventh in field goals attempted, sixthin scoring and fifth in assists. All that with another season toplay. Her single game and season records are too numerous tolist.
It wouldn't be right to mention all of Goff's accomplishmentswithout mentioning her mother.
"She's kind of like my inspiration. From day one she didn't haveany money, but buying me shoes to play basketball and taking me toall my games and stuff like that [was important to her,]" Goffsaid. "So I definently would not be where I am right now if itwasn't for all of her hard work, cause she's done as much asme."
She also wouldn't be where she is right now unless she hadshowed some confidence in the new coaching staff here at BallState, Roller said. Before Goff's senior year in high school, BallState had not had a winning season in ten years. That was whenRoller, then an assistant coach, came to Ball State under headcoach Brenda Oldfield. From there the program has had nothing butwinning seasons.
"[It's] amazing the turnaround that has happened just because ofher and her class," Roller said.
Without that turnaround, the team goal of winning the MACChampionship and getting the first automatic bid into the NCAAtournament in school history would be unthinkable. Instead, it'sall that's on the teams mind.
When Roller asked Goff before the season what she wanted to beremembered as, Goff said, "I want to be the one that took usthere."
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