Faced with a 12-point deficit after allowing 14 unanswered points in the second half of Saturday's game at Northern Illinois University, Ball State University coach Lisa McDonald called a timeout to encourage her players.
"I told them we did not drive [to Northern Illinois] for five hours to do anything other than win," McDonald said. "I could see the looks in their eyes and knew that they were determined. When we left the timeout I knew we weren't going to leave with anything but a win."
The Cardinals responded with a 28-8 run giving them an eight-point lead with 5:46 left in the game. The Huskies pulled within two points in the final minute but never led again as Ball State earned an 84-78 victory.
"It was definitely a big win because of what the girls were able to fight through," McDonald said. "We were down big in both halves and to be able to battle through that and come out with a win was really nice."
After struggling to find its offensive rhythm for most of the non-conference portion of the season, Ball State's women's basketball team established a healthy pace in its past two games. The Cardinals scored 84 points in their first two Mid-American Conference games, the highest total the team has posted in 15 games this season.
Senior forward Lisa Rusche, one of six Cardinals who posted double figures with 12 points along with eight rebounds, said her team changed its mindset after finishing the non-conference schedule.
"I think everybody was just really ready to start the MAC season and have a new beginning," Rusche said. "This is a good way to start off the second half of the season."
Four of Ball State's five starters last year averaged in double figures offensively and there were numerous times throughout the season when all five scored in double figures in a single game. Saturday's win was the first time this season all five starters finished with at least 10 points.
Rusche, who also added a team-high eight rebounds, said offensive balance is crucial to her team's success.
"If you rely on one player offensively you're not going to be as successful," Rusche said. "If you cut off the head, the body is going to die. But if you have seven or eight heads, that's much more difficult to do. If you have depth, you can pick your teammates up when they're down."
Ball State will play its fifth home game of the season Tuesday when it plays host to Eastern Michigan University. After building momentum in its past two games, Rusche said it's important to continue executing against the Eagles.
"That's what we need to do right now - just feed off the momentum that we have," Rusche said. "Northern was a great team and played us tough, and winning just gave us that much more confidence."
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