MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State women's basketball team returned to the Worthen Arena court for the first time since the 2007 Women's National Invitation Tournament as the Cardinals took home a 75-68 victory over the Hoosier Lady Stars Friday evening in an exhibition game.
“It was good for us to get out onto the court against another team and see where we are as a team this early in the year,” seventh-year head coach Tracy Roller said. “We were able to shake some the rust off that comes with your first game and we showed a lot of composure late in the game.”
The Cardinals used a balanced scoring attack as all five starters reached double figures in the victory. Sophomore guard Audrey McDonald (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) paced the attack with a game-high 17 points as she was five-of-seven from the field, including three-of-five from three-point land.
Ball State's senior front court duo of Julie DeMuth (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville) and Lisa Rusche (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) showed poise throughout the contest as they both turned in double-double efforts in the victory. DeMuth scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as she was seven-of-15 from the field. Rusche added 13 points and grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds as the Cardinals out-rebounded the Hoosier Stars, 43-30 in the game.
Junior guard Porchia Green (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) continued her stellar all-around play as she scored 14 points, grabbed nine rebounds, dished out a game-high four assists, blocked four shots and tallied two steals. Classmate Kiley Jarrett (Bloomington, Ind./North) stepped into the starting lineup with confidence as she scored 10 points and handed out five assists. Jarrett was a perfect six-of-six from the free throw line in the game.
The game started slowly for both teams as the Cardinals opened up a six-point lead at 15-9 just five minutes into the game. DeMuth keyed the spurt with five points in the run, including a three-pointer to cap the stretch. Freshman forward Emily Maggert (Paris, Ill./Paris) added three points in the run.
The teams battled back-and-forth with the Hoosier Lady Stars opening up a three-point lead at 29-26 with under four minutes remaining in the half. Ball State responded and closed the half on a 7-0 run to take a 33-29 lead into the locker room. The run was keyed by Green's defense as she blocked a shot and got a basket on the other end. McDonald capped the first half with a three-pointer from the corner with 47 seconds remaining in the half.
Ball State connected on 13-of-34 (38.2%) from the field in the first half and was just two-of-seven (28.6%) from long range. The Hoosier Lady Stars hit 12-of-29 (41.4%) from the field and five-of-11 (45.5%) from three-point land to keep the game tight.
The Cardinals came out in the second half and put together a 12-2 run to take a 47-34 lead. The run was again spurred on the defensive end as Jarrett tallied two steals in the stretch, while both Green and Rusche picked up blocks. Jarrett scored six points in the run as well as she was the benefactor of the defensive pressure.
The Hoosier Lady Stars did not stop battling as they responded with a 17-4 run to pull within one point at 60-59 with 5:26 remaining. After a Ball State timeout, McDonald came through with her third three-pointer of the night to give the Cardinals some breathing room. Ball State put the game out of reach with back-to-back baskets by McDonald and Jarrett to seal the victory.
Ball State finished the night 27-of-60 (45%) from the field and four-of-13 (30.8%) from three-point land. BSU also was 17-of-25 (68%) from the free throw line in the victory. The Cardinals' defense was strong in the victory as it recorded 10 steals and blocked six shots.
The Hoosier Lady Stars also finished 27-of-60 (45%) from the field and nine-of-21 (42.9%) from long range. Four players scored in double figures, all of, the bench, with Monica Maxwell leading the way with 11 points. Former Cardinals Tina Bolte and Raechelle Hampton each scored six and four points respectively.
The Cardinals will be off until the start of the regular season as they host 23rd ranked Louisville Saturday, Nov. 10. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Worthen Arena.
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