WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Ball State eyes WNIT opponent Northwestern
By Dakota Crawford / March 19, 2014It was announced Monday that Ball State will take on Northwestern in the first round of the 2014 Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
It was announced Monday that Ball State will take on Northwestern in the first round of the 2014 Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
The Ball State women’s basketball team knocked off Northern Illinois 67-57. It’s the Cardinals first home win since January 29. In the first ten minutes of the first half, the women’s basketball team found themselves taking an early lead, up 14-10. Shelbie Justice hit back-to-back three-pointers near the end of the first half to give Ball State momentum.
Ball State will play its final regular season game Saturday afternoon in DeKalb, Ill., as it faces 13-16 Northern Illinois. The Cardinals have struggled this season as the team sits at 2-15 in Mid-American Conference play and 5-23 overall.
After beating Central Michigan in its final home game and snapping a 10-game losing streak, Ball State will attempt to earn a needed road victory this evening.
FIRST HALF The senior five of Jesse Berry, Chris Bond, Kindon Crowder, Tyler Koch and Majok Majok were honored before the start of the final home game of the season. Ball State controlled the action early as it built a sizable 11-2 run to open up Senior Day.
Coming off a road loss to Toledo, the Ball State men’s basketball team will host Western Michigan on Wednesday. The Cardinals lost to the Broncos on the road Jan.
Undermanned and undersized, the Ball State Cardinals traveled to Toledo, Ohio in hopes of earning their first road victory. Ball State was forced to play without two of their key players Sunday evening as Majok Majok and Kindon Crowder sat out the entire game due to sprained ankles.
2/23/14 vs. Eastern Michigan | Score: 62-60, Eastern Michigan | New record: 11-14 overall, 6-8 MAC FIRST HALF In the game’s first 10 minutes, Eastern Michigan jumped out to a 20-10 lead, making two early three-pointers.
After enduring a winless three-game home stand, Ball State embarks north for a road trip to try and reverse its fortunes. The significance of one win holds power for the 4-19 Cardinals as the team looks to defeat the 8-16 Central Michigan Chippewas.
Ball State had the chance to secure its third win over a NCAA Division-I opponent this season, but Bowling Green erased any hope. Freshman Zavier Turner made 3 of his 5 total points on the right wing to put his Cardinals up 64-61 with 1:20 left in the game.
HEAD: MEN’S BASKETBALL: Senior Berry breaks three-point record in loss to Bowling Green Senior Ball State guard Jesse Berry found himself behind Bowling Green’s three-point line for the third time in the game.
Ball State’s matchup against Akron was the second one of the season, but the result was no different.
Ball State knew that height would play a factor in its Wednesday evening loss against Eastern Michigan, but it came in an unconventional way. Eastern Michigan’s center Da’Shonte Riley dominated the game without attempting a single field goal.
Tyler Koch is close to returning Koch is medically allowed to return to play, and it’s just a matter of time before he returns to the court.
Ball State is having a difficult time finding ways to prepare for its next two opponents. The 4-17 Cardinals have not had a height disparity since facing Utah in November, which can cause challenges for Ball State’s offense.
After utilizing a 17-2 run to come back in the first half, Ball State committed enough turnovers to lose their chance at upsetting 20-3 Toledo. The Cardinals opened up with a turnover not even 15 seconds into the second half.
Ball State gave Mid-American Conference leader Toledo all it could handle Saturday afternoon in its 80-73 loss, falling to 4-17 on the year. The Cardinals played with strong effort in a game where personal fouls seemed to take dominance over the play of both teams. “They’re 20-3,” Ball State basketball head coach James Whitford said.
Ball State freshman point guard Zavier Turner faced some big challenges this season, but perhaps none bigger than Saturday’s matchup guarding Toledo’s point guard Julius “Juice” Brown, a member of the preseason All-MAC team. The matchup didn’t disappoint for those watching at Worthen Arena.
The basketball ended up in the hands of Ball State junior guard Brittany Carter for a final desperation three-point heave in overtime. With six seconds remaining in the extra period, Ball State needed a three-pointer to tie and go to double overtime with the Mid-American Conference leading Central Michigan Chippewas. Carter missed the three-point attempt from the left corner, as the ball fell just short of the hoop, keeping Central Michigan perfect in MAC play at 10-0. “What we were trying to do was back screen with Shelby Merder,” Ball State head coach Brady Sallee said.
Holding a 19-point lead in the second half, not many things could have doomed the Ball State women’s basketball team. An offensive explosion from Crystal Bradford was one of them. Central Michigan’s Bradford had just two points at half time but scored 24 in the final 25 minutes to knock off Ball State 84-81 in overtime. “I expected that kind of performance from her,” Ball State head coach Brady Sallee said.
