With a 15-2 record, including a perfect 6-0 mark in the Mid-American Conference, the Ball State University women's basketball team has piled up numerous statistical achievements.
The Cardinals are currently on their second-longest winning streak with nine consecutive victories. The streak is also tied for the ninth-longest current streak in the nation.
On Monday, the Cardinals reached another season goal - earning the respect of those outside the community.
Ball State received two votes in the Associated Press' weekly national poll. The votes put the Cardinals in a tie for 38th place. Cardinals' coach Tracy Roller said the team is excited about receiving the national attention.
"It's good recognition for the program and this university," Roller said. "From the University President to the [Athletic Director], everyone on campus is excited when we get national attention."
Ball State is the third MAC team to receive votes in a poll this year. Bowling Green State University is currently No. 16 in the country according to the AP polls and Northern Illinois University received USA Today poll votes in December. Roller said the achievement is a milestone for the MAC, a conference that rarely receives attention from the national media.
"I thought coming into this season that this could be the year for the MAC to get national attention or maybe two teams in the NCAA tournament," Roller said. "With the upperclassmen we had returning as a conference, I thought this was the time. We've gotten the national attention, the next step is getting two teams into the tournament."
This is the first time since 2000 that the Cardinals have received votes in the AP poll. In 2000, the Cardinals earned nine votes and eventually climbed to No. 28 in the country. That season ended without a berth to a postseason tournament.
Ball State senior point guard Kelsey Corbin said the Cardinals are hoping for a different ending this season.
"I think getting votes just speaks to the consistency we've had this season," Corbin said. "There's something to be said that we've been able to continue winning .games. It's great to get that national attention now. The national attention we want is one of those 64 slots in the NCAA tournament."
The Cardinals have already broken numerous team records this season. However, in order to receive a bid to the tournament, Corbin said the team needs to keep from settling on its past accomplishments. Instead, she said the Cardinals need to continue to win games.
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