Ball State women’s basketball improves to 2-0 with its win over in-state rival IU Indy.
The Cardinals only beat the Jaguars by four points last season, but Ball State widened the margin this season with their 89-63 win.
Here are three takeaways from the win.
The defensive first quarter gets the ball rolling.
Ball State started the game down 0-3 after a deep IU Indy three but the Cardinals responded with a 13-2 run to take a 13-5 lead just four minutes later.
Although the Cardinals' first quarter on the offensive side of the ball might not have been stellar, their defense gave them the edge.
Ball State forced 11 turnovers in the first 10-minute frame, which resulted in seven of the Cardinals' 19 first-quarter points.
Most turnovers were forced from the Ball State full-court press, a staple under head coach Brady Sallee. The intense and physical press resulted in many forced passes from the Jaguars.
The Cardinals were an efficient 6-for-15 (40 percent) from the field while being 5-for-6 from the free throw line and 2-for-8 (25 percent) from three.
The start of a basketball game can dictate the outcome, and Ball State was doing everything in its power to control the floor early. The Cardinals' first-quarter effort led to a second-quarter where the Cardinals outscored the Jaguars 28-15 to head into halftime with a 47-26 lead.
The Ally Becki and Elise Stuck duo shine.
Senior Ally Becki led Ball State with 13 points against Old Dominion in the season opener, and transfer graduate student Elise Stuck had ten points. Tonight, Becki finished with 21 and Stuck added 11 points.
Stuck was all over the court for the Cardinals throughout the game. She could be seen hitting 3-point shots, mid-range jumpers or even driving to the rim. She led the Cardinals in the first half on the offensive side of the ball.
Becki was being Becki. She played all 20 minutes of the first half and was seen hitting shots from every level while adding her passing skills. The Brownsburg native had 12 points and six assists in the first half alone.
The pair tallied 23 first-half points, 49 percent of the Cardinals' 47 first-half points.
Lachelle Austin continues to impress.
Senior Lachelle Austin transferred from Mid-American Conference (MAC) foe Eastern Michigan to Ball State this season. Regardless of her former school’s relationship with Ball State, Austin has been an important piece in the Cardinals' puzzle.
Austin scored 11 points in her Ball State debut just days ago and scored 14 points in her second game as a Cardinal against the Jaguars.
Austin has been a pivotal member in filling in for senior Madelyn Bischoff who is still sidelined. Austin played 29 minutes for Ball State and was just as effective on defense as she was on offense. She finished with four steals for the Cardinals.
Ball State will be back in action Nov. 13 in Worthen Arena to face Memphis at 6:30 p.m.
Contact Elijah Poe via email at elijah.poe@bsu.edu or on X @ElijahPoe4.
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