Ball State Women’s Basketball won at home against Davidson University Dec. 5 80-61, improving to 6-3 on the season.
Coming off a two-game-skid, the Cardinals bounced back to secure the win against the Wildcats, capitalizing off of Davidsons turnovers to create offensive opportunities.
Here are some takeaways from the win.
Good defense turns into great offense
The Cardinals showed up on defense today, forcing 13 first-half turnovers and earning themselves seven first-half steals.
Ball State came out the gates enacting full-court pressure, prohibiting any kind of consistent production from Davidson. This allowed the Cardinals to go on a 17-0 run starting at the end of the first quarter and continuing into the second.
It became familiar to see senior forward Marie Kiefer earn a block or steal and then forward the ball up the court to Cardinal guards who proceeded to score key transition points. Ball State also out-rebounded Davidson by 14, helping them continue to capitalize offensively off of defensive efforts.
Cardinal starters showed up in this trend, but so did the bench.
Sophomore Hailey Smith scored a few key transition buckets in the paint alongside freshman Zuri Ransom and senior forward Maliyah Johnson.
Playing through injury
With senior forwards Alex Richard and Elise Stuck out of Ball State's lineup, the Cardinals have had to make up for their absences offensively and defensively in and around the paint.
Ball State played with a four-guard starting lineup, something new to the team this season. Even though the scheme was new, the Cardinal guards showed up and showed out.
At the end of the first half, senior guard Ally Becki had 15 points on a perfect 5-5 from the floor, alongside two free throws she earned off of and-one opportunities. Becki’s success spread to her Cardinal teammates.
Senior guards Lachelle Austin and Madelyn Bischoff had double-digit performances as Austin scored 18 points in the game while Bischoff had 14. Junior Sydney Bolden, who earned a starting spot today, contributed key minutes alongside Smith off the bench.
Smith provided relief for the starting guards while chipping in with four points and two assists. Ball States starters ended up out-scoring Davidsons by 15.
Success at the free throw line
At the line today, Ball State made 23 of their 26 free throws or 88.5 percent. At the end of the game, the Cardinal's free throw attempts matched their successful field goal attempts.
The Wildcats only made seven trips to the line, making five.
This success at the line boiled down to Ball State's offensive production, with many of the free throw shots coming from and-one opportunities. Their success is also a testament to the team's ability to draw fouls from opposing teams.
With the team's current production and performance, the Cardinals are bound to make some noise in the NCAA.
This win marks Ball States sixth on the season and its first since Nov. 24. It’s also the Cardinal's first win at home since Nov. 13. Ball State next plays Dec. 10 as they head back on the road to take on Ohio State University, who is currently ranked 12th in the nation.
Contact Trinity Rea via email at trinity.rea@bsu.edu or on X @thetrinityrea.
Read More
'It's something we've always lived for:' Delta outlasts Muncie Central in overtime victory
By Zach Carter / 4 hours agoDelta junior Lucas Brag led with 16 points as the Eagles defeated the Muncie Central Bearcats 49-46.
Ball State wins back-to-back games with win over Evansville
By Zach Carter / 9 hours agoSenior center Payton Sparks led with 20 points as Ball State downed Evansville 80-43.
‘You’re Not Alone’
By Linnea Sundquist / 15 hours agoAddiction and drug use has remained prevalent in the Muncie community.
