BY MAX DENARI | BALL STATE SPORTS LINK
As the calendar flips to November, here’s a look at four Cardinals you need to know from performances in the last week.
Lorina White: Soccer
Senior Lorina White has been awarded the MAC Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season. As well as being an unshakeable presence in defense, White scored three goals with two being game winning goals and also grabbed an assist this season.
She has a total of seven goals to her name in her two years in the program. White has started every single game in the center back position since transferring to Ball State her junior year.
She is the first player in the program to win any player-of-the-year award, and she has now done it twice in back-to-back seasons.
Mikayla Mooney: Field Hockey
Senior Mikayla Mooney was named to the All-MAC First Team for the first time in her collegiate career.
As one of the Cardinal’s captains she grabbed four goals and two assists this season with one game winning goal to her name as well. Over the course of this season she had 28 shots and accumulated 10 points with a .143 shot percentage.
The Cardinals fell to top-seeded Kent State, 2-1, Friday afternoon in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, ending its 2016 season.
James Gilbert: Football
Sophomore James Gilbert has continued to provide excellent performances for the Cardinals, specifically with a fifth consecutive 100+ yard rushing effort Nov. 1 vs. #17 Western Michigan.
Although the Cardinals fell to the Broncos 52-20, Gilbert rushed for a total of 155 yards, and broke the 1,000 yard milestone for the season on the opening offensive drive. Gilbert is one game away from joining former Cardinals Dave Blake and MiQuale Lewis at six consecutive 100+ yard games, which he could equal Tuesday vs. Eastern Michigan.
Gilbert remains at the number three spot in the nation in rushing with 1,142 yards on the season along with 11 touchdowns.
Tahjai Teague: Basketball
Redshirt freshman Tahjai Teague finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds against Indy Nov. 3 in the first and only men’s basketball exhibition game of the season.
Teague, who redshirted last season, was selected as an Indiana All-Star following his senior season at Pike High School for coach Bill Zach.
Ball State opens up regular season play against the Saint Louis Billikens Nov. 11 at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis.
