Entering the 2007-08 season, Ball State University fans could easily point to three non-conference games that presented the Cardinals' women's basketball team a chance to make an early statement.
After losing the first two of those games to the University of Louisville and Indiana University, Ball State recorded its third strike Wednesday in a 72-48 loss at Temple University, who made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.
In their past two losses, the Cardinals were within single digits in the final five minutes. Wednesday, Ball State trailed by at least 20 points during that stretch.
With the lack of competitiveness, Roller said, her team took a step backward against the Owls.
"No one likes to lose, and we're disappointed in the other [two] losses," Roller said. "But playing that tough of a schedule, you have to compete. The first two games we competed, and we didn't do what we needed to do [Wednesday]."
The Cardinals' 48 points were the fewest the program has scored in a single game since their 81-31 loss at Duke on December 20, 2004.
Ball State finished the game shooting 28.6 percent from the field and missed 15 of its first 16 shots of the game.
Roller said those shooting woes were the center of her team's struggles against Temple.
"It was one of those nights where we just couldn't throw it into the ocean," Roller said. "We missed layups, and we missed open shots. As a coach, you think [your players] will turn it around, and they never did. We were shooting well at shoot-around and before the game; it just didn't transfer to the game."
The Cardinals trailed Temple 27-23 at intermission. However, the Owls' bench, which had eight players see minutes and outscored Ball State's reserves 38-7, propelled Temple to a 20-point advantage in the second half.
Despite the lack of bench support, Roller said, her team's loss should be credited to the entire team.
"We didn't get offense from anyone," Roller said. "We didn't get those points from our starters or our bench. That's what hurt us."
Sophomore Audrey McDonald was the lone Cardinal in double figures with 11 points, which included three 3-pointers. Junior Porchia Green was Ball State's second-leading scorer with nine points and also added seven rebounds and five assists. Freshman forward Emily Maggert scored six of the Cardinals' bench points.
Senior Ashley Morris led Temple with 13 points, and Shanea Cotton added 12 points off the bench.
No Ball State players were available for interviews following the game.
Ball State's next game is Saturday at Valparaiso University, who the Cardinals beat 68-59 in the Hoosier Hoopla last season.
As disappointing as Wednesday's performance was, Roller said, there are still positives she can take from the loss.
"If you look at the first-half numbers, we were right where we wanted to be," Roller said. "I was very proud of the way they executed the game plan in the first half. We just didn't have the offensive night that we wanted."
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