Ball State University
2-2
UMass
1-3
Two Cardinals Score 20 In WBB's Win Over UMass
November 29, 2015 | Women's Basketball
BOULDER, Colo. - Senior Nathalie Fontaine and junior Jill Morrison scored 20 points apiece to lead Ball State to a 81-54 win over UMass in the consolation game of the Omni Hotels Classic Saturday night in the Coors Events Center.
With the win, the Cardinals improve to 3-2 overall while the Minutewomen fall to 1-3 on the season.
Sophomore Moriah Monaco added 11 points to go with nine rebounds, and sophomore Frannie Frazier had a career-high 10 points for Ball State. Fontaine continues to remain perfect from charity stripe, in five games she has made 24-of-24 free throws.
Ball State has been plagued by turnovers in the past but tonight the Cardinals only committed 13 for the game and only four of them were made in the second half. The Cardinals forced 20 turnovers and outscored UMass, 30-16 in the paint, 13-4, in fast-break points and 16 off turnovers. Ball State also controlled the boards 39-35 and had their best shooting performance of the season after shooting 50 percent from the field.
The Cardinals took a 33-28 advantage into the break despite running into foul trouble, sending UMass to the line 18 times. The Cardinals largest lead was nine (15-6) which came with 1:50 remaining off of a three-point play from Bennett in the first quarter. Ball State controlled the majority of the first half holding a lead for 18:13 over the Minutewomen.
Ball State broke their lead open with a big third quarter, outscoring UMass 32-16 to take a commanding 65-44 lead into the fourth quarter and would then lead the rest of the way. Morrison scored 13 of her 20 points in the third quarter.
Fontaine was named to the Omni Hotels Classic All-Tournament team. For the tournament Fontaine averaged 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest.
The Cardinals are back in action at home on Thursday, taking on Ohio Valley at 7 p.m. in Worthen Arena.
