Ball State Season statistics
Points in paint - 250
Opponents points in paint - 108
Free-throw percentage - 79.2 percent (3rd NCAA)
Nathalie Fontaine free-throw percentage - 94.3 percent (5th NCAA)
Jill Morrison free-throw percentage - 90.9 percent (Tie, 14th NCAA)
The Ball State women’s basketball 5-2 start is its fastest start since the 2006-07 season, during which the Cardinals began the year with a 6-1 record.
The driving force behind this year's success has been the team's second-best free-throw percentage in the country (79.2 percent) and its paint presence — the Cardinals have scored an average of 35.7 points in the paint per game and have given up just 15.4.
After defeating in-state rival Butler University 58-50 on Dec 6 and converting 13 free-throws compared with the Bulldogs’ six, head coach Brady Sallee said free throws are an important part of the game plan.
“It’s on the board before every game: win the free-throw battle,” Sallee said. “Part of that is defending discipline, part of that is getting yourself to the line, but you gotta make them. … That’s the name of the game, is walking up to the line and knowing you’re gonna make it, not hoping you’re gonna make it.”
Ball State also outscored Butler 26-12 in the paint, though it shot just 29.4 percent from the floor.
Senior guard Nathalie Fontaine scored 20 points and hauled in 13 rebounds in the game and said perseverance helped the Cardinals’ inside game.
“[The Bulldogs] did a good job; I didn’t see them half of the time coming from behind,” Fontaine said. “I probably got blocked like six times but just [kept] going. ... You gotta keep just playing through it, and at the end it’ll pay off.”
Fontaine started the season a perfect 24 for 24 from the line in the team’s first five games. When she missed her first in the Dec. 3 94-45 victory against Division II Ohio Valley University, Sallee was in a joking mood.
“We’re gonna wear gray uniforms again,” Sallee said. “[Fontaine] hates these gray uniforms, but every time she misses a free throw, we’re wearing them again.”
Even if Sallee was serious, however, the Cardinals would not have to wear gray often — Fontaine is 33 for 35 overall, and her 94.3 clip is still the fifth best in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Fontaine is not alone in her prowess from the charity stripe. Junior guard Jill Morrison is tied for 14th in the nation with 20 of her 22 attempts (90.9 percent) falling in.
No Ball State player with five or more attempts is below 50 percent from the line, and sophomore forward Moriah Monaco is perfect — but with just nine attempts, she does not meet the NCAA’s minimum of 2.5 free throws made per game to qualify for the national leaderboard.
In the Cardinals' five wins, they have converted 72 of their 89 free-throw attempts, or 80.9 percent. In fact, Ball State's efficiency at the line has made three more free throws than its opponents have even attempted. Opponents made 46 of their 69 tries, or 66.7 percent.
Free-throw efficiency has an added benefit aside from points — it helps neutralize the aggression of opposing defenses. The Cardinals have outscored opponents 250-108 in the paint, and Fontaine, who is 30th in the country with points per game, is a primary beneficiary.
“Coach keeps telling me to ... take it to the rim probably every game and not settle for jump shots,” Fontaine said. “I just have to keep getting it to the rim and do what I’m good at and not let them take my strength away from me.”
The second-best free-throw shooting team in the country will travel to Lipscomb for a 6 p.m. matchup Dec. 10.
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