TOLEDO, Ohio ? Junior forward Julie DeMuth (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville H.S.) turned in a career-high performance as the Ball State women's basketball team downed Mid-American Conference foe Toledo, 66-50, on Wednesday night at Savage Hall. The victory improves the Cardinals to 19-4 on the season and 10-2 in MAC action.
“We came out today and had a great start as we played some of our best basketball in the first 10 minutes,” head coach Tracy Roller said. “We were very aggressive on both ends of the floor and obviously Julie had a great game. She sparked us from the very beginning and never backed down all game long.”
The 19 victories for the Cardinals are tied for third most wins in program history. The victory, coupled with the Northern Illinois win over Eastern Michigan, gives BSU a three-game lead in the MAC West Division over both NIU and EMU with four regular season games to play.
DeMuth posted her eighth double-double of the season and 21st of her career as she tied her career-high with 28 points and set a new career-high with 19 rebounds. Her 19 rebounds are tied for the second most in a single game in program history and surpassed her previous high of 18 rebounds.
She tied her mark of 28 points as she was seven-of-13 from the field and 12-of-14 from the free throw line. She has now connected on 124 free throws this year which is just one shy of the single season mark of 125 set by Markita Griffin (1998-99).
The Cardinals came out of the gate and jumped to an early 9-2 lead as DeMuth scored seven points in the first three minutes. The Rockets warmed up and pulled within two points at 11-9 as Ta'Yani Clark nailed Toledo's only three-pointer of the half.
Ball State broke the game open with a 16-3 run over the next five minutes to take a 27-11 lead. The Cardinals found their range from deep as they connected on four-of-five from three-point land in the spurt. Senior guard Tina Bolte (Columbus, Ind./North H.S.) started the run with back-to-back three pointers while sophomore Porchia Green (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington H.S.) capped the run with a long-range shot in transition.
After Toledo narrowed the gap to nine points, the Cardinals closed the half on an 8-2 run to take a 35-20 lead into the locker room. DeMuth capped her strong half as she scored off of an offensive rebound to give BSU the 15-point lead. DeMuth reached a double-double in the first half for the second time this season as she scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, nine on the offensive end.
The Cardinals connected on 12-of-34 (35.3%) from the field in the opening frame, including five-of-13 (38.5%) from three-point land. Toledo was held to just eight first half field goals and just 29.6 percent shooting. The Rockets were also forced into 11 first half miscues and just one-of-eight (12.5%) shooting from long-range.
The two teams came out of the break and struggled from the field in the first five minutes of the second half. Toledo (8-16, 4-8 MAC) turned in a 12-4 run to pull within 10 points at 43-33 as Danielle Bishop hit a three-pointer to key the effort. The Cardinals answered as DeMuth converted an old-fashioned three-point play, while Bolte nailed her third triple of the afternoon to keep the Cardinal lead in double figures.
The Rockets had one last run for the Cardinals as they pulled within eight points at 56-48 with just over three minutes remaining. Ball State slammed the door shut with a 10-2 run to finish the game. DeMuth again converted on a three-point play while sophomore guard Kiley Jarrett (Bloomington, Ind./North H.S.) scored four straight points to end the Cardinals' scoring.
Ball State used a strong defensive effort in the victory as it held the Rockets to just 32.2 percent (19-of-59) shooting from the field in the game. The Rockets were held to just five-of-16 (31.3%) shooting from three-point land and connected on just 58.3 percent from the charity stripe.
The Cardinals finished the second half 10-of-20 (50%) from the field to post a 40.7 percent (22-of-54) field goal percentage for the game. BSU connected on 16-of-22 (72.7%) from the free throw line in the game and controlled the glass as it out-rebounded Toledo, 43-36.
The Cardinals had six players scored five or more points in the victory. Junior forward Lisa Rusche (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills H.S.) finished just shy of a double-double as she scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds. Bolte added nine points as she was three-of-five from long range in the game.
Green turned in a strong all-around performance as she scored seven points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out a career-high eight assists, tallied two blocks and picked up two steals. Senior Kelsey Corbin (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop H.S.) added six points while Jarrett finished with five points in the victory.
Toledo was paced by Bishop who finished with 12 points on just four-of-14 shooting. Savannah Werner chipped in 10 points for the Rockets in the losing effort.
The victory for the Cardinals secured the season series sweep of Toledo for just the third time in program history (1984-85 & 2001-02). The win is also the first for the Cardinals at Savage Hall since the 2001-02 season. The 10 wins in MAC action are also the fourth most wins in a single season for the Cardinals in program history.
The Cardinals will be back in action on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Kalamazoo, Mich. to take on Western Michigan in a MAC West Division battle. The game is set for a 2 p.m. start and will be broadcast on Comcast Local.
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