For most teams, a loss at the end of the season is a failure.
But for the 2012-13 Ball State women’s basketball team, a loss meant anything but that.
Ball State fell to Akron in the Mid-American Conference semifinals on Friday, 70-61, ending its season.
Akron shot the lights out of Quicken Loans Arena early in the first half, making five of its first nine 3-point shots. Ball State had trouble closing out on defense to contest Akron’s 3-pointers.
As the game continued, two teams that wanted to win began to play more physically, which led to more fouls on both sides of the ball.
Foul trouble seemed to constantly plague Ball State. With still over 11 minutes left in the game, Brittany Carter had four fouls. Two other players had three fouls.
For a Ball State team that dressed just seven players, one player fouling out would put it in an almost insurmountable hole.
Shanee’ Jackson eventually did foul out, but when the game had less than a minute left.
After the game, Sallee offered praise for his players’ progress throughout the season.
“A kid like Brandy Woody, you see her just absolutely explode this year,” Sallee said of the junior point guard.
Woody, although she scored nine points on just 2-of-13 on Friday, improved to the team’s highest-scoring perimeter player in 2012-13.
Sallee also discussed freshman Nathalie Fontaine as a “matchup nightmare” for opposing defenses. It showed as she scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds.
Fontaine was doubled often in the post on Friday, leading to a team-tying three turnovers.
At the 3:46 mark in the game, sophomore Shelbie Justice hit a straight-on 3-pointer that narrowed the gap to just two.
In the second half, senior Shanee’ Jackson grabbed a rebound and was fouled by Akron on the way down. That foul put Ball State in the bonus, and Jackson made both to tie the game.
Hannah Luburgh,who was 2-12 at that point from beyond the 3-point line, hit a 3-pointer to give the lead back to Akron. It would never relinquish that lead again.
Ball State was focused on stopping MAC Conference Player-of-the-Year Rachel Tecca throughout the game, and Akron adjusted with Luburgh.
She scored a career-high 33 points and added 12 rebounds.
Sallee said he sees this team as one of the most memorable he’s coached in his career.
“It’s up there,” Sallee said. “Because of the heart and what they put into this. … They just said ‘Coach, we’re going to do it your way.’ Lo and behold, they became one of the toughest teams I’ve ever coached. Between their ears they were tough.”
Two Ball State juniors expressed their will to win and the expectations for their senior seasons.
“It’s frustrating, but I know we’ll be back next year,” Woody said. “I wouldn’t trade this year for anything.”
Katie Murphy echoed Woody’s sentiments.
“We’ve made a lot of strides this year,” junior forward Katie Murphy said. “I’m just really excited to come back and get to work and get after it. I think next year will be big for us.
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