CLEVELAND — In Ball State’s Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament opening contest against Western Michigan, the seniors put on a show for the Cardinal faithful.
The women’s basketball “Core Four” seniors have been around the block in Cleveland, and the additions of Elise Stuck, Maliyah Johnson and Lachelle Austin have built a strong foundation for the Cardinals. The seven seniors scored all but two of the 82 points.
Here was how the seniors performed in this morning’s contest.
Ally Becki
Becki, the MAC Player of the Year, showed why she earned that award against the Broncos. Becki scored 14 points on 6-for-9 from the field and knocked down one from deep.
She added eight assists, three rebounds and a steal in her 32 minutes played. Becki has played over 30 minutes in every game this season and has been shining over the last few weeks.
Lachelle Austin
Austin is in her first year with the Cardinals but is no stranger to Cleveland and the MAC. She transferred after playing three seasons at Eastern Michigan. The Eagles made it to Cleveland twice in her three seasons in Ypsilanti.
She scored seven points on 3-for-11 from the field and one three-ball knocked down. She had two rebounds and seven assists as well. Austin also played 32 minutes in the contest.
She drained a deep three to send the game into halftime on a shot that felt like all but drained the wind out of the Broncos’ sails.
Marie Kiefer
The MAC Defensive Player of the Year performed on both ends of the court against Western Michigan. Kiefer had a steal and a block on the defensive end.
She scored 10 points and had 13 rebounds for the double-double. Kiefer played 33 minutes in the contest and was a force cleaning the glass throughout.
Kiefer’s double-double was an impressive showing of the strong play she has had all season.
Alex Richard
Richard has been the most consistent player for Ball State over the last month of MAC play. She was yet again the most sound Cardinal on offense, shooting 8-for-12 from the field with 17 points.
Richard led the team in scoring and added five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Although her performance felt “quiet,” her presence in the paint is always felt.
Richard played 25 minutes in a game where she sat more than she has throughout the MAC slate.
Madelyn Bischoff
Bischoff continued to shoot the ball well from beyond the arc with four three-balls falling. She scored 14 points on 5-for-10 from the field.
She had eight rebounds, two assists and a block in a team-leading 38 minutes. Every time the Broncos got it close, Bischoff hit big threes to pull the lead back away.
Maliyah Johnson
Johnson had six points off the bench on 2-for-3 from the field. She has been a major piece off the bench for head coach Brady Sallee and his staff of the year.
In her seven minutes on the floor, she was 2-for-2 from the charity stripe and had two rebounds.
Elise Stuck
Since returning from injury, Stuck had not seemed like her full self. Today was the first game she had seemed to be back in full swing.
She scored 12 points on 4-for-7 from the field and knocked down the only three-ball she took. Stuck had six rebounds and two assists in her 17 minutes on the floor.
She was a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line as well. Stuck is one of the best players in the MAC when it comes to drawing fouls, and makes it worth while by knocking down all her shots.
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