The Ball State women's basketball team fell short of a win inthe first of two exhibition games. They lost to the Reebox LadyStars on Saturday 84-81.
Ball State had a very balanced first half with everyone seeingplaying time. After starting the game on a 7-0 run, they led theStars until with 1:24 left in the first half when the game becametied. Freshman Kelsey Corbin then made a 2-pointer to give theCardinals a 38-36 lead at halftime.
After scoring only 7 in the first half, junior Kate Endress cameout after half time and scored 15 of the Cardinals first 26 pointsto give them their highest lead of the game, 15 points.
"I think just the tempo of the game in the first half was tooslow for us, we needed to pick it up," Endress said about herperformance after the half.
From there the Stars slowly chopped away at the lead andeventually took a 2-point lead themselves with 2:14 left in thegame. Endress answered with a three-pointer, but after two fouls byBall State the Stars were able to get their lead back up to twopoints from free throws. Endress once again came through with ajumper to tie the game. In the end it wasn't enough, though, as theStars put three more points on the board from free throws. SeniorJohna Goff took the last-second shot, but it didn't fall.
The Cardinals were led in scoring by Endress who had 29.Sophomore Raechelle Hampton was the only other player in doublefigures with 12. Endress, Hampton and freshman Becca Bajorek allhad 6 rebounds to lead the Cardinals in that category. Goff had 9assists to lead the team, which is the most that she's ever had ina regular season game.
"I think we gave up too many second chances," Hampton said. "Theoffensive rebounds, they shouldn't have got them because we reallyneeded the ball to push it down the floor."
Ball State committed 23 turnovers. In the second half, the Starshad 16 points off of Ball State turnovers.
The Stars effort was led by former WNBA player Monica Maxwellwho played all 40 minutes and had 23 points.
The Cardinals, who have been focusing on defense in practice,found out they still have some work to do.
"I think we had moments, but definitely not where we want tobe," head coach Tracy Roller said about the teams defense.
The upside to the Cardinals loss was that they now know whatthey need to work on the most.
"Hopefully by playing the ex-college players and people who haveplayed in the WNBA, we're going to be better come tournament time,and that's what it's really all about," Endress said.
"I think that's why you play good exhibition teams," Rollersaid. "I want to play teams like tonight, so they will make ourweaknesses glare and I think that's what they did."
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