During Ball State University's torrent streak to open women's basketball play in the Mid-American Conference, there was a lone divisional opponent it was unable to beat.
The Cardinals have their shot at redemption tonight when they play host to the University of Toledo at 7 p.m. It's a game senior forward Lisa Rusche said her team has been looking forward to.
"We definitely feel like we owe them," Rusche said. "You don't forget when you lose, and we haven't forgotten that loss. We didn't play as well as we should've in that game. We know we've got to come out and play better this time."
Since opening MAC play with five wins in its first six games, Ball State has lost four of its past five contests, including a 69-54 loss to Kent State University in its last game. The Cardinals should have more help against Toledo than they did against the Golden Flashes, however, senior captain Julie DeMuth was forced to sit out the team's last game because of swelling in her knees. Acting head coach Lisa McDonald said Monday night there is a 90 percent chance DeMuth will "at least try to play" tonight against the Rockets.
"She's always really limited in practice, but she was able to practice a little bit today," McDonald said. "Her knees are still pretty swollen, and usually if we can't get the swelling down she can't play. But she's a senior and she's been saying the games are too important to her to sit out this late in the season. She's so important to our team, so our plan is to play her [today]."
McDonald did say she will be cautious in playing her senior forward too much.
"We've got to have her for [the MAC Tournament in] Cleveland," McDonald said. "That's why we're being really cautious and smart about this situation. The most important thing is that we have her at her best at Cleveland."
Tonight's contest will kick off Ball State's second round of games against MAC West Division opponents. McDonald said her team couldn't ask for anything more than to start its final stretch of the season against the one divisional team it hasn't beaten this year.
"There's definitely that revenge factor going on," McDonald said. "After losing at their place earlier this year, it's going to be a great opportunity to have them at our place."
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