FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. ? The Ball State women's basketball team picked up its sixth straight midseason tournament championship as the Cardinals claimed the La Quinta Inn & Suites Thanksgiving Tournament on Saturday evening with a 76-61 victory over host Northern Arizona. The victory improves the Cardinals to 3-2 on the season while NAU falls to 3-4 on the season.
“We came into the weekend with a championship approach and tonight we accomplished one of our goals with the victory,” seventh-year head coach Tracy Roller said. “Our defensive play was great tonight as we turned in a 40-minute effort against a very good Northern Arizona team.”
Senior forward Julie DeMuth (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville) was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player for her efforts as she scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in the championship game. For the tournament, she averaged 21 points and nine rebounds as she led the Cardinals to the victory. This is the fourth straight midseason tournament MVP honor for DeMuth, dating back to her sophomore season.
Junior guard Porchia Green (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) also earned All-Tournament accolades as she scored 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists in the victory. She averaged 14 points in the two games to earn her second career All-Tournament honors after receiving the accolades last season in the St. Peter's Christmas Tournament.
“Julie and Porchia are very deserving of these honors as they both played fantastic this weekend,” Roller said. “We played great team basketball in our victories as we received contributions up and down our lineup.”
The two teams came out of the gate and battled back-and-forth for the first 10 minutes of the half. The Cardinals trailed 16-14 halfway through the first frame before turning up the pressure on the defensive end to spark a 21-5 run to close out the half and head into the locker room with a 35-21 lead.
The run was sparked by the defense that forced Northern Arizona into just two-of-12 shooting in the final 10 minutes of the half. The Lumberjacks were also forced into six turnovers during that stretch as the Cardinals were the aggressors on both ends of the court.
DeMuth started the Cardinals' 21-5 run as she scored seven straight points, including a step-back three-pointer. Green turned up the heat on the offensive end as she scored off of a drive and found freshman forward Emily Maggert (Paris, Ill./Paris) alone underneath in back-to-back possessions.
After a NAU timeout, the Cardinals closed out the half by scoring the final eight points to take the 14-point lead into the break. The Ball State defense wreaked havoc in the final minute as junior point guard Kiley Jarrett (Bloomington, Ind./North) picked up a steal in BSU's full court press and scored an easy basket in transition. Green also caused problems as she blocked a three-point shot in the corner from NAU's Laura Dinkins to thwart the NAU possession before the break.
The Cardinals finished the half shooting 48.3 percent (14-of-29) from the field and two-of-six (33.3%) from three-point land. DeMuth led all first half scorers with 11 points while senior forward Lisa Rusche (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) added seven points. The Ball State defense held Northern Arizona to just 29.2 percent (seven-of-24) shooting from the field in the opening frame. The Cardinals also recorded five steals and two blocked shots in the half.
The Cardinals came out to start the second half and continued to extend their lead as DeMuth and sophomore guard Audrey McDonald (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) nailed three-pointers in the first five minutes. Ball State took a 20-point lead at 52-32 eight minutes into the second half as Jarrett scored five straight points, including a three-pointer as the shot clock expired.
Northern Arizona made a late run as the Lumberjacks posted a 9-2 run to pull within 13 at 54-41. The Cardinals maintained their double digit lead all half as the Lumberjacks only got within 10 points once at 70-60.
Ball State finished the game shooting 52 percent (26-of-50) from the field and 41.7 percent (five-of-12) from three-point land. The Cardinals were once again strong from the free throw line as they connected on 90.5 percent (19-of-21). Northern Arizona finished the game shooting 37.5 percent (21-of-56) from the field and just three-of-10 from long range. The Cardinals also out-rebounded Northern Arizona by a 41-25 margin.
Rusche was one of four Cardinals' to score in double figures as Ball State had distribution up and down the lineup. Rusche finished with 13 points as she was six-of-12 from the field and also led the team with eight rebounds. Jarrett added 11 points, five rebounds and a career-high seven rebounds in the all-around performance.
McDonald chipped in eight points as she was two-of-five from three-point land while Maggert added eight points off of the bench. She was a perfect six-for-six from the charity stripe to pace the Cardinal effort from the line. Freshman forward Shannon Klei (Coldspring, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) added four points off of the bench as she was a perfect four-of-four from the charity stripe.
Northern Arizona was led by Ashley Ingle who scored 18 points as she was eight-of-12 from the free throw line. Reserve Jenna Galloway also tallied 18 points as she was six-of-15 from the field.
The Cardinals will be back in action on Wednesday night as they travel to Philadelphia, Pa. to battle reigning perennial Atlantic 10 power Temple. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
####
