Facing a team of former WNBA players and NCAA champions, the women's basketball team suffered a 98-72 loss to the Reebok Lady Stars in the team's final exhibition game.
"We didn't hit our shots, we didn't get offensive rebounds, we didn't guard, we didn't rebound defensively, we didn't play hard, and we didn't have any effort," head coach Tracy Roller said. "I'm sorry, we just didn't play very well."
The second half killed any hope the Cardinals had of winning the game as the Lady Stars outscored Ball State 49-28 after having a five-point lead at halftime.
"Everyone seemed to be going hard, but we just didn't execute," freshman Kate Endress said of the team's second-half play. "They did a good job taking it at us, but we did not do a good job taking it at them."
The shooting of the Lady Stars' Katie Douglas and Robin Threat-Elliott was the key factor for Reebok as the two combined for 46 points on 17 for 28 shooting.
Reebok shot 48.7 percent from the field for the game compared to Ball State's 40 percent.
The Cardinals were hurt the most by their ballhandling and passing skills. The Cards turned the ball over 26 times, including 15 in the first half.
After hitting seven of 19 three-point field goals in the first half, the Cards only managed one for 14 in the second half.
"I don't think we could have shot any more three-pointers," Roller said. "We definitely died by the three tonight."
Once the Cardinals had trouble shooting, the Lady Stars had little trouble making good on the given opportunities as they amassed a 17-6 scoring run that put Ball State out of the game.
"We just have to be a more 'go at them' team and just execute more," senior Shala Crook said.
The Cardinals were led in scoring by Crook and junior Tamara Bowie as they each scored 19, but the majority of those points came in the first half and only a handful were not from outside jump shots.
"From the jump it was hard," Bowie said. "But it wasn't something I couldn't handle. I just have to do better job of taking care of things and putting the ball in the basket."
Despite the Lady Stars' experience and talent, coach Roller said the team knew what to expect. She said she was not happy with the poor effort put out by the team.
"Granted they (Reebok) are a great team," Roller said. "We're not the first team to get beat real badly by them. I'm just disappointed with our effort as a team. We just gave up in the second half."
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