Ball State's (16-3, 5-3 MAC) offense caught fire early, using a 26-0 run during the second quarter to blow past the Bowling Green (10-9, 2-6 MAC) 82-41 on Wednesday night.
The Cardinals were able to hold the Falcons to just four points total in the second quarter while going to a long run to take a 41-9 lead to put the contest away before the halftime buzzer had sounded.
“As we slowly built that lead and got on our run, the game was over fairly quick,” head coach Brady Sallee said. “I thought we kept playing the same way and the right way.”
Ball State’s defense held Bowling Green to shoot just 1-16 from the field and 0-10 from behind the arch in the second quarter.
The tight defense continued for the Cardinals as they limited the Falcons to finish the game shooting 19.7 percent from the field and 13.3 percent from deep.
“The players understand what it is we have to do to be good,” Sallee said. “We made it so tough for them to score.”
Coming into this game the Falcons averaged 64.7 points per game.
Ball State found themselves taking possessions away from Bowling Green coming up with 12 total steals.
“I think that with the defense that we played we were able to get up and take away their sight and then they throw it right to us," senior forward Moriah Monaco said. “Defense turns into offense and that’s what we did the whole game.”
However, the defense wasn’t the only thing to stand out in the conference battle.
Ball State was able to have control of the game all the way through on offense and defense.
“Just top to bottom great effort and great win,” Sallee said. “Really proud of the team to come out and win a conference game by 41, you don’t really see that.”
The Cardinals out-rebounded the Falcons 55-45. The 55 team rebounds were a season high against a division one opponent.
“When you rebound the way we did you’re holding them one-and-done and you’re going,” Sallee said. “That’s tough to play against.”
Monaco was able to capture her third double-double of the season, leading all scorers with 23 points also grabbing 10 rebounds
“[Monaco] was going up as aggressively as I’ve seen her all year,” Sallee said. “That’s a senior that’s been listening.”
Junior guard Carmen Grande was able to continue to make plays for teammates, dishing out 9 assists and also adding 12 points.
“It starts with our energy and effort,” Sallee said. “I challenged them to really do the work on the boards and I was proud of what we did there.”
Ball State also was able to score at will inside adding 38 points in the paint.
The Cardinals win the season series against the Falcons 2-0 after beating them earlier 84-73.
Ball State will be back in action at home again to try and continue their winning ways as they face another conference opponent Northern Illinois at 2:30 p.m.
Contact Daric Clemens with comments at diclemens@bsu.edu or on Twitter @DClemens_.
Read More
Delta opens 2024-25 with 48-36 win over Connersville
By David Moore / 4 hours agoThe new Delta squad began 2024-25 with a win over Connersville
Ball State football’s blowout loss to Ohio summarizes failed season
By Kyle Smedley / YesterdayAfter the Bobcats’ 42-21 routing, the Cardinals finished the season with their worst record since 2017.
