Ball State University Athletics
Stifling Defense Halts Women's Basketball Win Streak
December 04, 2005 | Women's Basketball
BSU - VALPO Box.pdf
Valparaiso used a stifling defense and near-perfect ball control to hand Ball State its first loss of the season -- 61-49 -- Sunday in the second game of the State Farm Classic at Worthen Arena in Muncie. The Crusaders held the Cardinals to a season-low in points, field goal percentage and 3-pointers to claim the win. Sophomore Julie DeMuth notched her third-straight double-double -- the sixth of her career -- with 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead BSU.
Raechelle Hampton's jumper in the paint 30 seconds into the game put Ball State on the score board first. The Cardinals countered a Valpo bucket by Tamra Braun with a 3-pointer by Tina Bolte and then went up by five with another jumper by Hampton. The teams traded baskets, but a layup by Mayella Kuikhoven and back-to-back free tosses by Braun gave Valparaiso a lead -- 13-9 -- it would not relinquish. The Crusaders scored 14 unanswered points and went on a 22-3 run, which culminated with a double-digit lead of 27-12 with 7:29 left in the period. During the time span, BSU went virtually ice cold, missing nine shots from the floor and managing just three free throws during the stretch.
After Valparaiso went on top 29-14 at the 6:33 mark, Ball State utilized a 10-0 run -- highlighted by an old-fashioned 3-pointer and four more points by DeMuth -- to get within five points at 29-24 with 4:15 left in the period. Valparaiso responded by scoring the period's final four points to take a nine-point lead of 33-24 into the break. Over the first 20 minutes, was limited to a cold 8-of-26 (30.8) showing from the floor, including an uncharacteristic 2-of-13 from beyond the arc.
The Cardinals struck first in the second half with a quick layup by DeMuth followed by back-to-back free throws from Kelsey Corbin, putting them back witin five points at 33-27 with 1:49 elapsed. Valpo extended its lead up to nine points and then to 12 at 46-34 with 7:25 left. A 7-0 run gave VU a 55-39 advantage at the 3:15 mark, putting the game out of reach.
"I knew if we scored more than 60, we had a great chance to win and if we were under that, we would probably lose," BSU head coach Tracy Roller said. "Valpo did a great job of taking us out of our game and controlling the tempo. They are a championship team -- very patient and poised. We just couldn't match them offensively."
For just the second time this season, only two Ball State players managed double-digit scoring totals with DeMuth at 14 points and Bolte at 13. The Cardinals' 49 points were a season low, nearly 21 points under their season average of 75.8.
"Our kids played really well tonight," Valparaiso head coach Keith Freeman said. "Controlling the tempo was the key. We wanted them to score in the 40s. They wanted to score in the 80s. In order to accomplish that, we had to handle the ball with sureness and I think we did that. We kept them from their transition game. I really believe a huge key was Lauren Bechtold's great defensive job on Kelsey Corbin. Corbin is so great at creating shots for her teammates and I think Lauren did a tremendous job of limiting her. I like this Ball State team and think it is better than any other I have seen. With players like Corbin and Julie DeMuth, who have such passion for the game, they are a hard team to beat."
Valparaiso was led by the game-high 17-point effort of Carrie Myers. Kuikhoven chipped in with 13 points plus pulled down nine boards. Braun led the way with 10 rebounds.
Ball State posted a 40-36 advantage on the boards and the teams combined for just 21 turnovers -- nine by Valparaiso. The Crusaders ended the game with a 40.4 (23-of-57) field goal percentage, including 7-of-15 from 3-point range. The Cardinals, on the other hand, were a cool 31.6 (18-of-57) and just 3-of-20 from beyond the arc.
BSU drops to 5-1 on the season, while Valparaiso improves to 4-2. With the game, the Cardinals conclude a five-game home stand and begin a stretch of seven-straight road games Saturday at Butler.
