For the Bowling Green women’s basketball team, it won’t get much bigger than this.
After getting through a rough January schedule, the Falcons (14-6, 7-2) are sitting atop the Mid-American Conference West division and tonight’s opponent, Ball State (11-10, 7-3), is right behind them.
“It’s a big challenge for us on the road,” BG head coach Curt Miller said. “It’s going to be a championship style game.”
In an odd conference — the MAC has 13 basketball teams — Bowling Green is the odd man out. The Falcons have two games against MAC West power Eastern Michigan in their schedule while the Cardinals have just one game against the Eagles. Eastern has beaten both teams already but the Falcons still have another game with them on the schedule, making their road to the MAC title that much more difficult.
“This game takes on added importance,” Miller said. “We need a separation game to win the West. If not, Ball State will have an easier road to winning the MAC.”
The road to beating the Cardinals won’t be an easy one for BG as they have to find a way to slow down guard Kate Endress.
“What can you say,” Miller said. “She is just a dominant player in this conference.”
Endress is coming off a 2003-2004 campaign that saw her average 18.8 points and 6.9 boards per game en route to a first-team All-MAC selection.
This season has been much the same as she has put up 18.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest. All this has been done while shooting 46.3 percent from beyond the arch.
“Her shooting numbers are off the chart,” Miller said. “She hits almost four threes per game.”
Ball State has nine players on their team that play at least 12 minutes per game. Much of the team thrives from downtown, as the Cardinals come into tonight’s game shooting 35.6 percent from three as a team.
“Defending the arch is going to be a big deal,” Miller said.
But for the Falcons to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the MAC this season, they are going to have to get this road win.
The early portion of the season saw BG travel all around the country, from a game in Columbus against No. 2 Ohio State to a game in front of 9,000 fans at “The Pit” in Albuquerque.
“Part of the master plan is to win conference games on the road,” Miller said. “It’s a big test going into Worthen Arena, it’s not an easy place to win.”
Tip-off for the game is slated for 8 p.m. in Muncie at Ball State.