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.

Dec. 21, 2001

Well, like I promised, I'm back again! The last week or so has been long, but fun. I guess it was long because everyone is anxious to get home for the holidays. We had a game at IUPUI on Dec. 17, our annual team Christmas party, a men's game with Butler and our final game before Christmas with Saint Francis on Dec. 20.

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

The IUPUI game was a challenging one for us. It was our first game in eight days after finals week at Ball State. We came out a little flat, ok, REALLY flat in the first half. At one point, we were down by 15 points! We couldn't hit shots and our defense wasn't looking up to par. Going into halftime we were down by 11, but the feeling in the lockerroom wasn't a negative feeling. It was more like, "What are we doing?"

The second half started just they way I thought it would. We came out more intense, which helped us chip away at the lead and win the game 76-70. I was proud of my team because I watched them win the game from the bench. Yes, I fouled out with 2:30 to go. Let's just say it was a good lesson learned.

The team Christmas party was fun. I got to spend some 'off the court time' with my team, coaches and support staff. We had dinner, played games and exchanged gifts with our Secret Santas. I gave my Secret Santa a Ripen Raspberry bath collection with a lot of candy. I received a strawberry candle (my favorite) and some personal accessories.

After we exchanged gifts with each other, we left in a hurry to get to the arena. Our men's team played Butler that night. The arena was sold out with 11,500 screaming fans. The excitement and atmosphere was awesome, everything college basketball is about.

My teammates and I had a special surprise for the game -- we all wore white T-shirts that said 'Go Ball State,' and half of us wore different color wigs. We made signs and screamed at the top of our lungs for the whole game. Too bad it didn't work; our men's team lost 75-66. We did make it on TV in our 'gear' as the Ball State Sports Network televised the game live.

I'm glad I didn't lose my voice because we had a game the next night against Saint Francis. It was 'Thunder Stick' night so there were hundreds of kids with thunder sticks in the stands! We played for the entire 40 minutes against the Cougars and posted a 99-55 win. Everyone played so well and it just showed us what we could accomplish when we play as a team. Before the game, coach Roller presented me with a special game ball for scoring my 1,000th career point earlier this year. It was a special feeling because my mom was in the stands.

Now I am free to go to my home in Lansing until Dec. 26th. Christmas with my family is special and I am looking forward to the time with them. I guess I will talk to you all later! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

One Love,

Bowie