There's a reason why Western Michigan University's Carrie Moore is the leading scorer in the nation. The senior can fill up the scoring column quickly.
Ball State University held Moore, who averages 25.3 points per game, to 17 points in a 76-60 victory earlier in the year. However, the nation's leading scorer exploded for 31 points against the Cardinals Saturday, handing the team an 81-68 loss.
It was Ball State's (19-5, 10-3 Mid-American Conference) first loss against a team from the MAC's West Division after the Cardinals won their first six games against divisional opponents to start the year. Ball State coach Tracy Roller said the difference in the two performances was the location.
"The first time we played [Western Michigan] we did a good job on both her and the team," Roller said. "You tend to shoot better when you're at home. Carrie is a great player and she's rounding out her career. So we knew she would be tough to stop."
Moore had 18 points in the first 20 minutes, helping push Western Michigan to a 40-26 halftime lead.
In the second half, Ball State cut Western Michigan's lead to 10 with 8:46 remaining on a Lisa Rusche free throw. However, Western Michigan scored seven unanswered points to push the margin to 17, which was the Broncos' largest lead of the half. Moore scored five points during that stretch.
The closest Ball State got the rest of the way was nine points before settling into the final margin.
Julie DeMuth led a balanced Ball State attack with 19 points and 15 rebounds. It was her ninth double-double of the season. The junior also finished 5-of-8 from the free-throw line, giving her 129 free throws made during the course of the season. That number breaks the previous single-season record of 125 set in the 1998-99 season held by Markita Griffin.
While DeMuth said the record was nice, she said she would've preferred the win.
"I didn't really know I was close to the record until a couple of days ago," DeMuth said. "So it's exciting for me. But it would've been more exciting to get our 20th win."
Lisa Rusche recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Freshman guard Audrey McDonald was held scoreless for the first time this season in 29 minutes of action. McDonald has combined for five points in her last three games. Though the freshman is struggling, Roller said she hasn't lost faith in McDonald.
"Audrey's been a big part of our offense and a big part of our winning season," Roller said. "Even if she's not hitting her shot, just bringing a defender out to the perimeter to guard her opens up the floor and helps our team out. She'll bounce back and I'm confident she'll keep having a great season."
Even with the loss, the Cardinals hold a two-game lead in the West Division over Eastern Michigan University with three games to play. Two of those games will be played within the friendly confines of Worthen Arena.
Roller said the team is happy to be back home after playing four of its last five games on the road.
"Right now, I think I speak for the whole team when I say this February has been a tough one," Roller said. "After being on the road so much recently, we are so excited to get two games back home."
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