Ball State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Caputures Classic Title
November 27, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Ball State utilized a balanced scoring attack and a stifling defense on the way to claiming the title of its first-ever Credit Union Classic with a 65-54 victory over North Dakota State Sunday at Worthen Arena. Junior Krista Stewart took scoring honors for the second day in a row as the Cardinals improved to a perfect 4-0, matching the best start in the 32-year history of the program. Stewart and junior Kelsey Corbin were selected to the five-person all-tournament team, and sophomore Julie DeMuth garnered Most Valuable Player honors.
North Dakota State's Katie Lorenz scored the game's first bucket, setting up a tight back-and-forth battle that would ensue for the next several minutes. After the Bison's Kayla Dahlen put her team up 13-12 at the 10:04 mark, BSU senior Raechelle Hampton followed with a short jumper giving BSU a lead it would not relinquish for the remainder of the game. The Cardinals scored 10 unanswered points over a four-minute span, including back-to-back 3-pointers by freshman Kiley Jarrett, sandwiched around six points by Hampton, to take a 24-13 lead with 5:34 left in the period.
Ball State was up 34-23 at the break with Jarrett leading the way on a 3-of-4 performance from beyond the arc. BSU shot 41 percent (14-of-34) over the first 20 minutes, while holding its opponent to a mark colder than the temperature in Fargo Sunday of 24 percent (7-of-29). The Bison's top-two scorers -- Katie Lorenz and Lisa Bue -- were held to a combined five points during the period.
North Dakota State opened the second half with a jumper by Lorenz and a 3-pointer by Ali Sonstelie to get within six points at 34-28 at the 18:17 mark. From there, it was all Ball State as the Cardinals responded with an 8-0 run, including buckets by Stewart, Corbin, Hampton and DeMuth. BSU managed a double-digit advantage the rest of the way, leading by as many as 17 points with under four minutes left.
"It was another great team effort," BSU head coach Tracy Roller said. "We got good looks from so many different people. Picking an all-tournament team had to be extremely difficult, because I know, from our standpoint, we had several players who deserved a spot on it and more than one who could have been the Most Valuable Player. We are really proud to be the champions in this first-ever event and it's great to start out our season 4-0."
Stewart led the way with 15 points for BSU. Jarrett came off the bench to score a career-high 13 points. DeMuth and Hampton added 11 each, while Corbin chipped in with 10. DeMuth pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds, while Corbin accumulated eight rebounds, matched by Hampton, and eight assists. BSU finished the game with a 38.8 field goal percentage (26-of-67), including a 4-of-16 showing from beyond the arc.
Ali Sonstelie led North Dakota State with 17 ponts. Danni Heintzelmanwas second with 12. Kayla Dahlen added nine plus led the way with eight rebounds. The Bison were limited to just 32.1 percent (17-of-53) from the field.
Ball State's 4-0 record thus far matches the best start in school history with the 1999-2000 team, which was victorious in its first four outings before suffering a loss. NDSU drops to 1-3 on the season. The Cardinals continue their five-game home stand Wednesday when they host Illinois State at 7 p.m.
NOTES: In the consolation game, Georgetown posted a 77-45 victory over Lipscomb.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Kieraah Marlow (Georgetown), Kayla Dahlan (NDSU), Ali Sonstelie (NDSU), Kelsey Corbin (Ball State),
Krista Stewart (Ball State)
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Julie DeMuth (Ball State)
