Editor's note: Ball State's Tamara Bowie, last season's Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, will share a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season.

Jan. 30, 2002

Hello from the bus! After several long bus trips, we finally were able to enjoy a short one to Miami University for our game on Wednesday night. I am writing this entry on the way home after our exciting 70-59 win. These last two games were important ones for us.

	Tamara Bowie averaged 18.6 points and 8.4 rebounds as a sophomore in 2000-01.

Entering this stretch of games, our opponents, along with us, each had just one loss in conference play. The first two games were great tests for us -- the road games would show us whether our team could stay together and respond to a big game. So far, so good.

I really like the way we are playing right now. We have had a lot of different people step up and be leaders in these games. At 15-4 and 7-1 in the league, I have to distribute credit all across the board.

The first game was at Western Michigan last Saturday and was probably the most difficult of the two. With their vocal crowd and pesty band (which by the way, was even closer to our bench than the band at Ohio), we still were able to overcome the environment and get the needed win.

I think that kind of atmosphere gets our team hyped. We are an emotional team and the talking we do between ourselves on the court keeps us together. The game was competitive and back and forth, but we went on a run late in the game and pulled away for the 85-73 road win. It was a special game for me because my pastor from home made the trip along with my family and friends.

Game 2 in the stretch was tonight (Wednesday) at Miami. This was another tough road game at a place where Ball State had only won two times in 27 years! Miami had come off three losses and we knew it was ready to play at home.

We fell behind by eight early, then we started to click and play really good defense. Because we couldn't hit the 'broad side of a barn' in the first half, we knew our defense would have to carry us until the shots started to fall. I think we take a lot more pride in our defense now. The second half was a better start for us and we started being more aggressive to the basket. I think we did a really good job of finding the open man and really playing as a team. The final score was 70-59.

Now we return home for the third game in the stretch against Toledo. We both are 7-1 in the MAC and this will be for sole possession of first place in the West Division. We know this is going to be a battle to the end.

It's the same position we were in last year, only this time we are prepared for a better outcome. Toledo beat us twice in a week's time last season, so we feel like we have unfinished business. A lot of people call the Ball State-Miami game a rivalry, which it definitely is. But for us, Toledo is our rival, too. No question, there is a lot on the line Saturday.

We've been focusing on this three-game stretch, but we also know there is still half the MAC season left to play. It's not over yet.

Well, we're almost home and I have to help clean up the bus. It has been a good week for Ball State basketball, and let's hope it continues!

One Love,

Bowie