1. Ball State vs. Stetson - Dec. 4, Muncie
The Cardinals play three games against teams that made the 2011 NCAA Tournament (Stetson, Wisconsin Green-Bay, Bowling Green). This is the first of the three. Stetson was a No. 16 seed in last year's tournament and lost to Tennessee in the first round. This game is the ninth game in the schedule, but it will be a confidence booster for Ball State if it can pull off a win against a tournament team from a season ago.
2. Ball State at Butler - Dec. 9, Indianapolis
No, the women's basketball team at Butler has not made consecutive appearances to the title game, but it's still a non-conference rivalry between the two schools. Last season, the Cardinals lost in a double overtime game to the Bulldogs at Worthen Arena. Both teams scored above 90. Who's to say it couldn't happen again?
3. Ball State vs. Eastern Michigan - Jan. 5, Muncie
Ball State begins Mid-American Conference play at home against conference tournament runner-ups Eastern Michigan. The Eagles have been on the rise the past two seasons and made a surprising run in the MAC Tournament last March. If Ball State wants to make some noise in conference play, a win against Eastern Michigan would help.
4. Ball State vs. Bowling Green - Jan. 25, Muncie
Gone is two-time MAC Player of the Year Lauren Prochaska from a Bowling Green squad that has won the past two conference tournaments. But Bowling Green is always in the hunt to win the MAC. A win for the Cardinals against the Falcons could either make Ball State a serious team in the conference or could make Bowling Green throw up a red flag.
5. Ball State vs. Toledo - Feb. 28, Muncie
Not only is this game Senior Night, but it's also a home game against the defending Women's National Invitation Tournament champions. After failing to make the MAC Championship game in Cleveland, the Rockets went on a tear through the WNIT to beat USC in the title game. Toledo had two players, Naama Shafir and Yolanda Richardson, named to the WNIT All-Tournament Team and both will be back this season.
Complete Schedule
Thu, Nov 03 St. Joseph College (Indiana) (Exhibition) Muncie, Ind. TBA
Fri, Nov 11 Illinois State Muncie, Ind. TBA
Sun, Nov 13 Wright State at Dayton, Ohio TBA
Wed, Nov 16 SIU-Edwardsville at Edwardsville, Ill. TBA
Sat, Nov 19 Murray State Muncie, Ind. TBA
Mon, Nov 21 Oakland City (DIII) Muncie, Ind. TBA
Tue, Nov 29 Evansville at Evansville, Ind. TBA
Thu, Dec 01 Detroit Mercy Muncie, Ind. TBA
Sun, Dec 04 Stetson Muncie, Ind. TBA
Fri, Dec 09 Butler at Indianapolis, Ind. TBA
Sun, Dec 11 Austin Peay Muncie, Ind. TBA
Sun, Dec 18 Valparaiso Muncie, Ind. TBA
Tue, Dec 20 Wisconsin-Green Bay at Green Bay, Wis. TBA
Sat, Dec 31 Marshall Muncie, Ind. TBA
Thu, Jan 05 Eastern Michigan * Muncie, Ind. TBA
Sun, Jan 08 Western Michigan * at Kalamazoo, Mich. TBA
Wed, Jan 11 Northern Illinois * Muncie, Ind. TBA
Sat, Jan 14 Central Michigan * at Mt. Pleasant, Mich. TBA
Thu, Jan 19 Toledo * at Toledo, Ohio TBA
Sun, Jan 22 Akron * Muncie, Ind. TBA
Wed, Jan 25 Bowling Green * Muncie, Ind. TBA
Sat, Jan 28 Miami * at Oxford, Ohio TBA
Wed, Feb 01 Kent State * at Kent, Ohio TBA
Sat, Feb 04 Buffalo * Muncie, Ind. TBA
Sat, Feb 11 Ohio * at Athens, Ohio TBA
Thu, Feb 16 Northern Illinois * at DeKalb, Ill. TBA
Sun, Feb 19 Central Michigan * Muncie, Ind. TBA
Wed, Feb 22 Western Michigan * Muncie, Ind. TBA
Sat, Feb 25 Eastern Michigan * at Ypsilanti, Mich. TBA
Tue, Feb 28 Toledo * Muncie, Ind. TBA
* designates MAC games