There's a saying the Ball State University women's basketball coaches preach anytime the program enters a game against a prolific offensive scoring threat such as Miami University's Amanda Jackson.
"We say, 'Cut off the head and the body will die,'" acting head coach Lisa McDonald said. "If we can take Miami's head off, we feel confident in our ability to stop everybody around her. Our goal is to always cut that leading, go-to player off."
McDonald said she feels confident in her team's ability to carry out its motto against Jackson, the nation's seventh-leading scorer with 22.4 points per game. The RedHawks' second-leading scorer is Jenna Schone with 13.4 points per game. Schone is the one other player to lead Miami in scoring during a game this season, pacing the RedHawks in six of their 23 games.
The bulk of Ball State's goal to stop Jackson will fall on the shoulders of the Cardinals' defensive stopper, junior guard Porchia Green.
"I'm pumped about that matchup, but I don't know if Miami is so pumped," McDonald said confidently. "Porchia gets up for those kind of challenges. We ask her to guard the other team's best player every night. Everyone talks about what a great player Amanda Jackson is. Porchia is just as much a great player. I think Porchia can guard anybody and do a great job. She's the best defender in the MAC."
Green has grown accustomed to defending the opposition's best player. Last season, Green defended former Western Michigan guard and current Phoenix Mercury rookie Carrie Moore twice. Moore's 25.3 points per game average led the nation last year, but Green held Moore to fewer than 20 points in both meetings.
Earlier this season, Green faced the challenge of guarding Louisville guard Angel McCoughtry, a preseason Wooden Award mention. McCoughtry is fourth in the nation with 24.1 points per game. Green held McCoughtry to 19 points in their meeting, which was the Cardinals' season opener.
"I love to take that challenge to guard the other team's best player," Green said. "When I'm guarding them I feel like I have nothing to lose. They're the ranked offensive player, so they have the pressure on them. I take a lot of pride in shutting them down."
Of all the prolific scorers Green has faced, she said Jackson's game mirrors Moore the most. Standing 5-feet-9-inches tall, Jackson has the size to muscle up in the post, and she also has the finesse to drive the lane or shoot from the outside.
"Her game is very complete," McDonald said.
After studying film, Green said she has been able to find one possible hole in Jackson's game.
"She can't go to her left," Green said. "If I can force her to use her left hand, I can have success."
Regardless of McDonald's excitement for the matchup between potentially the best defensive and offensive players in the league, she said success will be based on the final score.
The RedHawks are in a three-way tie atop the MAC East Division with a 6-3 conference record, while Ball State is also in a three-way tie atop the MAC West Division with the same mark.
McDonald said the winner of tonight's game will carry significant momentum into the remainder of the conference season.
"It's an important game to us in the MAC standings," McDonald said. "It's another opportunity for us to separate ourselves and grab ahold of our goals for the season."
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