For the first time since the 2003 season, the Ball State Cardinals are the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Regular Season Champions.
The Cardinals topped Buffalo (23-6, 12-5) 72-60 to claim their MAC title and the No. 1 seed in the MAC Tournament next week in Cleveland.
Here are three takeaways from the win.
First MAC Regular Season Title in 22 seasons, what’s next?
Ball State claimed its first regular season crown since 2002-’03, where they had won it for the second consecutive season.
Hanging in the rafters of John E. Worthen Arena, three MAC banners are up for the Ball State women: 2002 MAC champs, 2003 MAC champs, and a lone MAC tournament title from 2009.
Winning the regular season ensures the Cardinals will be the No. 1 seed in Cleveland next week. The MAC tournament takes place at Rocket Arena March 12-15, with the Cardinals opening play March 12 at 11 a.m. against the No. 8 seed.
Although the full seeding has not yet shaken out fully, as of now, Ball State will take on Western Michigan. Ball State has beaten the Broncos twice already this season. The first was a 10-point 61-51 home win that the Cardinals dominated from whistle to whistle. The score did not show it, but the game felt like the Broncos were never really in it.
The second contest, a road game in Kalamazoo, Western Michigan played on its senior day and gave Ball State a tough game. Although Ball State again won by a 10-point margin, the Broncos battled.
If Ball State is to play Western Michigan in game one in Cleveland, the Cardinals need to do all the things they did tonight right again. Limiting turnovers is the biggest factor, and it has to be lower than the 20 they coughed up tonight. Ball State has to control the boards and clean the glass against a smaller team like Western Michigan.
When Ball State plays inside out, it frees up players on the perimeter and creates opportunity. Even if they keep it low, the Ball State bigs have been leading the way the last few weeks, especially Alex Richard.
Ball State is primed for a Cleveland and beyond run, and if it were to do so, it would be its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009.
Strong third quarter.
Ball State came out of the halftime break quick and energetic. Ally Becki missed a layup on the offensive end, smacked the padding on the basket, and came down on the defensive end heated after the Cardinals committed a foul.
Becki seemed upset in the huddle and the Cardinals came out of the half with that same energy and fire. Ball State seemed to emulate that fiery passion and energy Becki had before the break.
The Cardinals lit up the scoreboard early in the half, scoring eight points in the opening two minutes and limiting the Bulls on their end.
Ball State used a huge scoring effort, outscoring Buffalo 27-to-13 to take a 12-point lead into the final frame, Ball State had trailed by two at halftime.
The big third quarter for the Cardinals gave them the lead with 8:35 left in the third, and they never looked back. The dominance in the final 12 minutes over what looks to be the No. 2 seed in Cleveland is a positive sight heading into tournament play.
Cardinals force Buffalo into foul trouble.
Ball State was in the bonus early in the game, 2:12 left on the clock in the opening period and the Cardinals were shooting one-and-one.
Out of the halftime break, five Bulls were at two personal fouls, and three were starters. Getting Buffalo into foul trouble early, and often throughout, was a difference maker for Ball State.
The Cardinals were able to get to the line, although not shooting it well, hit some big free throws down the stretch. Buffalo’s top player and MAC Player of the Year frontrunner Chellia Watson was one of the Bulls with two fouls heading into halftime.
Getting some of the opponents' better and more utilized players in foul trouble can cause them to play timid. Getting a player of Watson’s caliber in foul trouble slowed her down, and the offense as a whole. She had just 12 points tonight, and is averaging 20.3 points per game on the season.
Buffalo standout Lani Cornfield also got into foul trouble. Cornfield, along with Watson, has been a major part of the Bulls’ success. She had four fouls with under a minute to go in the third and was limited the rest of the game. She had been guarding Becki throughout the contest, and was defending her well.
When the Cardinals play downhill, and through the paint, they can create trouble for opposing teams. Getting to the free throw line, and executing those shots is a characteristic of some of the better tournament teams.
There is still one more contest before focusing on the MAC tournament. Ball State will play at home against Ohio March 8 for Senior Day. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. for the final regular season contest.
Contact Logan Connor via email at logan.connor@bsu.edu or via X @_loganconnor.
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