The Ball State women’s basketball team was 8-1 in the Mid-American Conference and riding high on a six-game winning streak on Feb. 7. It was fresh off an upset win against Central Michigan and had a chance to move up to first place in the MAC West.
Since then, Ball State has lost two straight; first to Toledo, then on a road match to Akron.
The Cardinals have a chance to get back on the right path as Eastern Michigan comes to Worthen Arena tonight to play at 7 p.m.
If there was a MAC team to want to play to get back on a winning track, it would probably be Eastern Michigan. The Eagles have the second-worst overall MAC West record in conference play and the worst record in the MAC West in non-conference play.
Ball State also beat Eastern Michigan on Feb. 3 by 15 points.
However, coach Brady Sallee says his team will not be able to take that game and use it as a baseline.
“Probably for starters, I think it’s important for my team to understand that just because the first game went the way we wanted it to, it doesn’t necessarily mean the second is going to,” Sallee said. “In my experience in these games, you better be ready to come in with just a little bit different gameplan and do things just a little bit better.”
Sallee said there will be “a few different wrinkles” to the gameplan, but he wouldn’t make major changes.
“It’s not like we’re going to rewrite the game,” Sallee said. “I think [Eastern Michigan] will clearly be prepared for the offense we ran against them. We’ll have a couple things that hopefully will be able to give us a look here and there that will be able to help us.”
In the first game, Nathalie Fontaine scored a game-high 14 points and added 10 rebounds. Senior Shanee’ Jackson scored 12 points, but on 6-of-17 shooting.
No matter the opponent, Ball State will have the same defensive philosophy.
“We’re a team that’s going to sit in the gaps, and try to keep them from driving it and getting it into the paint. It’s going to be no different against Eastern Michigan,” Sallee said.
In its previous meeting this season, Ball State also held Eastern Michigan to just 25 percent from the field, with the Eagles making just 1-of-18 three pointers.
“If we expect to do that again, we’re crazy,” Sallee said. “We’re definitely going to get their best shot.”
