Since the first tip off earlier this season, Ball State University women's basketball players have had Saturday's date circled on their schedule.
The Cardinals play host to Bowling Green State University, which represented two of Ball State's seven defeats last season, including a 16-point loss in the Mid-American Conference tournament championship game. The Falcons are currently ranked first in the MAC East Division, while Ball State is atop the MAC West Division.
"Every year you're going to have that team you can't wait to play," senior forward Lisa Rusche said. "It just so happens that Bowling Green has been that team for us during the past three years. So far in the conference season, I think we've proved we were picked No. 1 in the MAC for a reason. Last year was their turn; this year is our turn."
Despite losing five of its top six scorers from a team that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in last year's NCAA Tournament, Bowling Green has won 15 of its 18 games. The returning starter, point guard Kate Achter, has been a key component on the Falcons' last three MAC Championship teams.
In her final season, Achter's 13.6 points per contest is second on the team, and she ranks ninth in the nation with 6.5 assists per game. With Achter's valuable senior leadership on the floor and one of the MAC's better coaches - Curt Miller - on the bench, acting head coach Lisa McDonald said, she hasn't been surprised with the success Bowling Green has experienced this season.
"When I was out recruiting this summer, I kept hearing everybody saying how Bowling Green was going to be down this year," McDonald said. "I just thought, 'No way.' Curt Miller is such a great coach he could take five scrubs off the street and still win a championship. They may be catching some people by surprise, but they haven't caught any of us off guard."
The Falcons lost their first MAC game of the season to Miami University in their last outing. In contrast, Ball State enters Saturday's game following its biggest win of the year, a 25-point victory against Central Michigan University.
"We're coming in after a big win and they're coming in mad and angry," McDonald said
Despite the natural grudge match after last year's losses and the rivalry the two programs have built during the past couple years, McDonald said, her team is approaching Saturday's contest the same way it prepares for each game. Yet, she said a potential win would be crucial for the remainder of Ball State's season.
"We are focused right now because we know we control our own destiny," McDonald said. "Bowling Green is going to be at the top of the East no matter what happens. But we don't get a lot of opportunities to control our own destiny."
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