With Ball State Women's Basketball's (17-11, 10-8 in MAC) defeat of the Chippewas (4-24, 2-17 in MAC), they have essentially punched their ticket to the Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio.
After trailing for the first 37 minutes and 33 seconds of the game, Ball State was able to hold Central Michigan scoreless for the final 4:15 to go on a 13-0 run and win 75-69.
Junior Annie Rauch helped lead the Cardinals to victory with a career-high 24 points and nine rebounds. She said seeing her hard work pay off has been rewarding for her and has remained confident in her abilities.
“You want to be playing your best basketball at the end of the season,” Rauch said. “I’ve been trying to do the same thing I’ve done all season and it’s finally clicking for me.”
Head Coach Brady Sallee said Rauch’s performance helped the Cardinals secure victory tonight through her play and her mindset.
“I thought she was exactly what we needed tonight in the post,” Rauch said. “She played like somebody who felt this game meant a lot to them, and we talked about playing this game like it meant something.”
With heavy tournament implications, this game did mean something. With their win, the Cardinals now sit in fourth place in the MAC.
Rauch said she hopes to use her recent play and mindset to help Ball State make a run in the tournament.
“Something we talk about a lot is being ready when your number is called,” Rauch said. “Trying not to get too high or too low is really important as well.”
Four Cardinals scored in double figures in the victory, with freshman Ally Becki scoring 13 points (along with 10 rebounds and nine assists), senior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir scoring 12 and graduate transfer Chyna Latimer scoring 13.
While the Cardinals have found much of their identity throughout the season through rebounding and hitting shots from the 3-point line, their triumph over the Chippewas was different. Central Michigan won the rebounding battle 35-33 and used the 3-pointer to get out to an early lead, hitting five in the first quarter.
Sallee said Ball State leaned on experience when they were down, fighting to come out victorious.
“It felt like they were hitting every single shot in the first quarter,” Sallee said. “It felt like we were playing the Golden State Warriors. We’ve been in so many of these games I just think we knew how to close. It’s a 40-minute game and they don’t hand out W’s for winning 35 minutes.”
Although Central Michigan has only won four games this season, Sallee didn’t downplay the Chippewas. He said games like these are hard to predict and that winning a game like this shouldn’t be overlooked.
“I would rather play Toledo every night than a team in last place because they have nothing to lose,” Sallee said. “When you win a game on the road in March, you can’t be too uppity to understand how big that is.”
Central Michigan junior guard Molly Davis led the Chippewas with 17 points and was joined by three others in double-digit scoring.
Rauch said when the Cardinals made it to the MAC Tournament in the 2020-21 season, it left her bitter and knows Ball State is equipped to make a statement this year.
“When we went to Cleveland, we lost in the first round,” Rauch said. “That’s something that puts a bad taste in my mouth. I know we’re good enough to win one game at a time and make a deep run.”
Sallee said the Cardinals have been to Cleveland before. He said at Ball State, just getting there isn’t enough.
“I’m not worried about going to Cleveland,” Sallee said. “I’m worried about winning. I think everyone on the bus right now is under that same belief.”
The Cardinals play their final home game of the season on March 5 against Eastern Michigan (7-19, 4-15 in MAC). Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Contact Kyle Smedley on Twitter @smedley1932 or via email at kyle.smedley@bsu.edu
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