In Ball State University's 64-40 victory over Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Friday night, junior forward Emily Maggert led the Cardinals in scoring for the 11th time this season.
Maggert scored six of the Cardinals' first 10 points during a 19-0 run to start the game in which the team never trailed.
"My teammates just give me the ball at good times during the game," Maggert said. "My whole team helps me get the numbers I have been able to put up."
Though the team has only played three Mid-American Conference games this season, Maggert is recording numbers that should put her in consideration for MAC Player of the Year, but she is not stressing about earning the award
"It would be an honor to be considered," Maggert said. "But I'm more concerned about the well-being of the team rather than my own well-being."
Coach Kelly Packard also believes Maggert is playing to the level that she could be in the running for the Player of the Year award, but said it depends on how the team finishes the season.
"From a skills and statistic standpoint, I believe she is capable of getting the award," Packard said. "But in reality I think we have to contend for the [MAC] title, that's just how it will shape up."
Packard said Maggert brings consistency to the team. She said all the players know what they will get from her every game, yet Maggert is humble about her personal statistics.
"She gets uncomfortable when we talk about her stats," Packard said. "But it just shows that she puts her team first and she is a teammate the other players enjoy having."
It might be too early in the season to begin naming favorites to win Player of the Year, but Maggert is making her argument on the court. Even if she is uncomfortable talking about her chances, the better she plays, the talk of her winning the award will increase.
On Sunday, Maggert will have one of her best chances of the season to prove her worth, as MAC West Division favorite University of Toledo comes to Worthen Arena.
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