The women’s basketball team still is without a conference win entering the third week of Mid-American Conference play.

The team came close last Saturday in its 68-66 loss against Eastern Michigan at Rose Arena. The Chippewas’ next opportunity comes at 7 p.m. today in Muncie, Ind. against Ball State University.

“I feel good going into every game,” said coach Sue Guevara. “We’re prepared – Ball State is physical inside. I feel good about getting stronger and more physical, period.”

Ball State also boasts a trio of dangerous starters – junior guard Porchia Green, senior guard Julie DeMuth and forward Lisa Rusche all are averaging double-digit points per game.

Central hopes to take advantage of the Cardinals and their recent misfortune. Ball State (7-10 overall, 3-1 MAC) is coming off a loss at Toledo, its first in the MAC.

“It’s an opportunity to defeat a team that’s already down,” said sophomore forward Britni Houghton.

Houghton also said she believes Central can compete with any team in the conference. She is coming off a set of games in which she has put up some good numbers.

In CMU’s loss to Eastern Michigan, Houghton led the team with 17 points and tied for the team-high with seven rebounds. This was only one game removed from perhaps the best game of her career, when she put up a career-high 20 points and eight rebounds Jan. 15 at Northern Illinois.

Houghton said she just wants to continue to battle.

“Be consistent on the defensive side,” she said. “Box out and bring energy to the table and that will help the team.”

In addition to its lack of success in the MAC, Central also has not won a game since Dec. 29 and has not won at home since Nov. 17. The Chippewas are coming off their closest MAC loss, and Guevara still is optimistic. CMU led, 40-34, at halftime, but was outscored, 34-26, in the second half.

“I thought we competed pretty hard,” Guevara said. “We just needed that last shot to fall.”

The Chippewas (4-13 overall, 0-4 MAC) 40.7 percent shooting to Eastern’s 46.4 percent in the second half would ultimately lead to their fourth conference loss. The Eagles shot 47.5 percent from the field.

But Guevara said neither she nor the team is disappointed or discouraged.

“Now it makes us more determined,” she said. “We just need to stay a lot more focused and maintain our energy level.”

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