After another key victory in Mid-American Conference East play Wednesday against rival Akron, Kent State women’s basketball (14-3, 5-0) will hit the road to Muncie, Ind. to take on Ball State (7-11, 2-3 MAC) on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Flashes are entering a stretch of six games against MAC West opponents, three games at home and three away. At home, the Flashes hold an impressive 8-0 mark, but on the road the team is 5-3.

Entering the thick of MAC play, the Flashes are playing their best basketball. With an impressive 72-55 victory over Akron, where the team had a 21-point lead at one point, the team has shown they can handle themselves in any situation.

“Every game we go in we know it’s going to be a fight,” said senior forward Chenel Harris. “We try not to look at the score and take easy because at any given moment, we could have a lead and next thing lose it.”

All time, the Flashes are 35-12 vs. the Cardinals, and split the season series last season with a home win for both teams. Coach Bob Lindsay knows the Cardinals well, with an all-time record of 27-7 against them.

“In this league, or any league, you have to defend no matter who you’re playing whether it’s west division or east division, you have to come out and defend at your best level every game if you’re going to have a chance to win,” Lindsay said. “When you play on the road, you almost have to be better than that.”

The tough road trip will be a true test of the Flashes’ defense because of Ball State’s potent offense.

“Ball State is a good offensive team and they’ve played well recently so every time we get out there we have a tough game with them and I expect the same thing with them on Saturday,” Lindsay said.

Ball State is coming off a tough loss to Northern Illinois, 73-62, on Wednesday, and has conference wins over Western Michigan and Central Michigan this season.

Senior forwards Emily Maggert and Ty’Ronda Benning for the Cardinals average double-digit points and both are strong on the boards.

The Flashes will look to continue their hot shooting from beyond the arc to add another element to an already strong offense. Against Akron, the Flashes shot 50 percent from three that accounted for 21 points.

Contact Matt Lofgren at [email protected].