Editor's note: Ball State's Amy Zercher and Tamara Bowie will share a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season. This week, Bowie looks ahead to the final week of the regular season.

Feb. 19, 2001

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

Hello everyone, it's me again! After finishing up another week of action, we went 1-1 with a win over Western Michigan and a disappointing loss to Eastern Michigan. Even though it seems like the world is coming to an end, it's not over. We have not performed at our highest level the past two weeks, but the real season is just beginning.

This is the last week of the regular season and we have just two games remaining. Now is the time when we have to come together and start playing Ball State basketball like we did earlier in the year.

The past two weeks have been frustrating for us because we have been up and down with our play. I will be the first to admit that I haven't been playing the way I should be playing. Going through what we have the last two weeks has made us a closer team, and I believe that our team will pull through and finish up strong.

These last two games are really important to us. Even though we want a good seed for the Mid-American tournament, the most important thing is that we get back to playing the unselfish basketball that we are used to playing. With March approaching, now is the time for teams to be playing their best basketball, and the ones who stick together and play as one are successful.

Last week we bounced back from a loss at Buffalo with a 97-70 win over Western Michigan. Before the game, coach O called a meeting for myself, Shala Crook, Amy Zercher and Laurie Kitts. She called us "the big four" and told us that this is our team and that we control our own destiny. We responded -- against Western Michigan each of us scored in double figures. The win was our 18th of the season and set a new Ball State record for wins in a season.

As excited as we were following the win on Wednesday, we were equally upset on Saturday. It just seemed like we couldn't get going against Eastern Michigan, especially myself. Eastern didn't throw anything new at us; we just failed to execute the scouting report. It was a tough day, but we have to remember that it's not the end of the season.

This week we have a long trip to Northern Illinois on Wednesday. Then Saturday is Senior Day at home against Central Michigan. It will be a very emotional day for our two seniors-- Melannie Post and LaTisha Tucker. Knowing it is their last game at Ball State, we want to make it a special day for them. There's no question that this is a big week for Ball State women's basketball.

Peace, Bowie