A slow start for Ball State Women’s Basketball (7-16, 2-9 MAC) and six players in double-digits for Akron (14-8, 5-6 MAC) handed the Cardinals their fifth loss in a row and their third loss by 30 or more this season, 91-61.
“I didn’t like our effort tonight,” head coach Brady Sallee said. “It’s hard to say exactly what it was, but we’ll go watch film and learn from it.”
Redshirt senior Megan Sefcik’s performance was unmatched as she posted the game-high in points and shot 80 percent from the field and 100 percent from the free throw line.
The Cardinals saw their worst first quarter performance of the season tonight in James A. Rhodes Arena as they scored only three points to the Zips’ 20. While the Cardinals posted the first bucket of the evening, that would be their only one in the first ten minutes. The Zips were led by junior guard Shaunay Edmonds who recorded 10 points in just the first quarter.
Waking up a bit in the second quarter, the Cardinals went on an early 6-0 run, but the solid four-minute stretch wouldn’t last. Sefcik took control as she went four for five from the field, two for three from the arc, and two for two from the charity stripe in the second quarter alone to give the Zips a 23-point lead.
Two threes from sophomore guard Maliah Howard-Bass gave the Cardinals a glimpse of hope heading into the half, cutting the deficit to 14 points with a score of 37-23. But the Zips weren’t finished.
There were many working parts contributing to the Zips’ offensive success apart from Sefcik and Edmonds. Juniors Caitlin Vari and Shayna Harmon both posted double-digit points, as well, along with Vari’s 16 rebounds and Harmon’s six assists. Junior Alyssa Clay played her part with three three’s, two in the fourth quarter.
Sefcik remained unstoppable, racking up 24 points by the end of regulation and the Zips’ passing game remained solid, and the team collectively dished 17 assists.
Leading the Cardinals was sophomore forward Oshlynn Brown with 16 points, followed by Howard-Bass and junior guard Jasmin Samz who each recorded 12. Brown also led in rebounds with nine.
“I wouldn’t say we had any big shots,” Sallee said. “They blitzed us from the start and its hard to feel good about this one.”
While the Cardinals sit at the bottom of the MAC West rankings, they are just one game shy of Saturday’s opponent, Eastern Michigan. The Cardinals will take on the Eagles in Ypsilanti on Saturday.
Contact Gabi Glass with any comment at grglass@bsu.edu or on Twitter @gabiglassbsu
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