With the regular season coming down to its final leg, Ball State is looking to end on a positive note and end its six-game losing streak.
It starts first with a road game against Central Michigan tonight. In their matchup earlier this season, the Cardinals came away with an 86-77 win against the Chippewas.
But coach Kelly Packard said her team has work to do to get another win.
"We need to work on offensive execution," Packard said. "Toledo was so physical with us, and we struggled to get the ball where we needed it. The second thing we need to work on is transition defense."
Ball State's win earlier in the season against Central Michigan will provide confidence in the team to get another win.
"It's a mental push for us," Packard said. "It's not the coaching staff convincing them we are good enough to beat them. We need to have the mental push to play well on the road."
Senior forward Emily Maggert will be looking to rebound after Ball State's 67-49 loss to Toledo. Maggert finished the game with six points and three rebounds before fouling out with 11:44 to play in the game.
Packard said Maggert knows she needs to have a better game.
"She doesn't need to be brought down by any type of verbal attack," Packard said. "That game was a disappointment for everyone, but no one is more disappointed than [Maggert]."
Maggert is capable of playing well against the Chippewas, as she scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the win earlier this season.
Ball State is currently playing to be able to host the first round game of the Mid-American Conference on March 8. If the season ended today, the Cardinals would play the first round game on the road as the ninth seed.
Packard said the discussion of playing at home in the first round has been brought up in practice.
"We talk about the importance of each game," Packard said. "Not just for the game at hand, but how it can affect the remainder of the year. At the same time, we're disappointed at where we are. This game is important for that first round game."
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