MEN'S BASKETBALL: Unique defense, missed free throws doom Ball State in loss to UC-Davis

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Ball State to play in 2010 Great Alaska Shootout

The Great Alaska Shootout announced the participants for next year's tournament this week and Ball State will make its first appearance in the Thanksgiving weekend tournament.

FOOTBALL: Cards finish with a flourish

An 87-yard punt return by Charlie Todd and five Western Michigan turnovers catapult Ball State to a 22-17 victory.    

FOOTBALL: Ball State kicks its way to early lead

A pair of big defensive plays by Ball State University helped it open a 6-0 lead after the first quarter at Western Michigan University.

CROSS COUNTRY: Bishel falls 20 seconds shy of being All-American

Despite shedding three seconds off her season-best six-kilometer time, redshirt junior Ali Bishel finished in 67th place at the 2009 NCAA Cross Country Championships on Monday afternoon."You go into it to run the best race and beat as many people as you can," cross country coach Randy Heisler said. "Realistically you know your PR and those of the other people. It was a season-best time for Ali; so from that perspective she did well."

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Cards look to start Thanksgiving Break off on right foot

Tonight's game against Valparaiso University (3-0) will be a battle for in-state bragging rights. Ball State (1-2) enters the contest coming off a hard-fought victory over Northern Arizona University (0-4) on Saturday.The Crusaders could be one of the toughest challenges the Cardinals will see early this season. Valparaiso is off to its best start in program history with three straight wins, but hasn't taken to the road yet.

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Ball State travels to Temple

Two distinctly different wins at home opened the 2009-10 season for the Ball State University men's basketball team, and now the Cardinals begin their road slate tonight in Philadelphia at a perennial NCAA Tournament team at Temple University.Coach Billy Taylor said Monday that the Owls (2-1) present problems all around the court for the Cardinals (2-0).

FOOTBALL: Cards end season at Broncos

Coach Stan Parrish hopes Ball State University responds better to the finish line than they did to the starting gun.Ball State (1-10) started the year slowly with a 20-10 loss to the University of North Texas that spiraled out of control into a nine-game losing streak. With only one more game left in 2009, Ball State is looking to finish strong at Western Michigan University on Tuesday night.

GYMNASTICS: Ball State signs two for next season

The Ball State University gymnastics team has announced the signing of two gymnasts as part of the 2010-2011 freshman class.Kayla Hani and Leah Wilson signed their national letters of intent last week, according to a Ball State press release.

MEN'S SWIMMING: Cards finish 2nd at Coers Invite

Vastly outnumbered by Grand Valley State University, Ball State University finished second at the Doug Coers Invitational Saturday with 675 points. Despite being undermanned, the Cardinals showed progress from their last tournament and exhibited several impressive individual efforts, with four event victories.After his team finished second for the second consecutive year, coach Bob Thomas said he was very pleased with his team's efforts.

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Ball State improves to 2-0 with win over SIU-Edwardsville

With a 57-47 victory against SIU Edwardsville on Saturday, Ball State University improved to 2-0 for the first time in coach Billy Taylor's tenure.The Cardinals started off hot, opening the game with seven straight points and two dunks. Their shooting touch would go cold as the game continued, but Ball State finished strong enough to earn the win.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Cards notch first win of season

There were several stories to follow Saturday evening at Worthen Arena. The Ball State University women's basketball team was looking for its first win of the season after dropping a tough decision Monday night. Ball State looked to slow down Northern Arizona University's (0-4) freshman guard Amy Patton. Audrey McDonald crossed the 1,000 point mark for her career.All these stories collided to create a memorable 74-69 Cardinal victory in a close, hard-fought game.

CROSS COUNTRY: Bishel to compete in national championship meet today

Before the 2007 season, Ball State University cross-country coach Randy Heisler didn't know Ali Bishel would be the number one runner on the team.Two years and countless accolades later, Bishel is gearing up for her second NCAA Championship appearance.

WOMEN'S SWIMMING: Ball State wins 2nd invite in as many weeks

Four weeks into the season, the women's swimming and diving team is already looking forward to the end of the season.A pair of divers qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving Meet at Purdue University in March this weekend at the Doug Coers Invitational at Lewellen Pool, which Ball State University won by 185 points.

FOOTBALL: Former Pro Bowl QB enjoys time in Muncie as ESPN analyst

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Cards look to continue winning streak in MAC Tournament

All last week there was an aura surrounding Ball State women's volleyball (15-15, 7-9) coach Dave Boos. There was an extra spring in his step and a big smile on his face — a smile that was missing for several weeks.Winning five of six and four straight will do that for anyone, especially when a four-game high matches the best streak of the season.

DN Weekly Awards

Each week, The Daily News' sports crew picks its PPQ - the play, player and quote of the week.But it doesn't stop there. With the help of our online voters, the weekly fan choice is also featured.

ATHLETICS: Ball State announces firing of soccer coach Lovett, field hockey coach Payne

Three of the 10 Ball State University women's athletics teams are now searching for leadership after the athletics department announced on Wednesday it would not be renewing the contracts of soccer coach Michael Lovett and field hockey coach Annette Payne.Lovett and Payne join former women's tennis coach Kathy Bull as the three Cardinals' coaches fired within the past month. Bull was fired on Oct. 20 amidst six NCAA violations.

FOOTBALL: Cards notch 10th loss of season with 35-3 thumping from Central Michigan

A tired and limping Ball State University football team ran smack into the best team in the Mid-American Conference on Wednesday night.Quarterback Dan LeFevour led Central Michigan University to a 35-3 thumping of Ball State at Scheumann Stadium. The senior threw for 344 yards and four touchdowns. He also led the Chippewas with 59 rushing yards and another touchdown.

FIELD HOCKEY: Annette Payne timeline

The Ball State University athletics department announced Wednesday that it would not renew field hockey coach Annette Payne's contract for the upcoming season. Below is a look at the highlights and lowlights of the soccer team during Payne's nine-year tenure as assistant and head coach.