Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
14-10, 10-3MAC
Central Michigan
11-13, 6-7MAC
WBB Remains On Top Of The MAC West With Win Over CMU
February 19, 2015 | Women's Basketball
By Doug Zaleski
BallStateSports.com
Coach Brady Sallee offered one of those comments that sounds like a compliment, but is really intended to send a message after his Ball State women's basketball team claimed a 73-64 victory Wednesday against Central Michigan.
Judging by the wry smile that creased the face of star player Nathalie Fontaine – the coach's intended target – the remark was received and understood as she sat next to Sallee in the postgame press conference.
“The points were there, but that's because she shot it on a record-breaking pace, and the points followed,” Sallee said of Fontaine's first-half performance when she put up 11 shots to score 12 points.
That earned Fontaine a spot on the bench for six minutes in the second half after playing all 20 in the opening half. The junior bounced back like Sallee had hoped, and she helped the Cardinals break a 51-51 tie with 7:40 to play and go on to the nine-point win.
“One of the best things about coaching Nathalie is she responds,” Sallee said. “She doesn't always play perfect, doesn't always do the right thing, doesn't always come ready to play. But for three years, when I've gotten after her, when I've challenged her, when a game has gotten after her, when the team has challenged her, most of the time she responds.
“She's a gamer. She understands the role. She doesn't like sitting … but she usually responds to that extremely well.”
Fontaine, the reigning Mid-American Conference West player of the week, was a catalyst for the Cardinals (14-10, 10-3) down the stretch.
She broke the tie with a free throw with 7:07 to play. Later, she scored layups on back-to-back possessions to put the Cardinals ahead 60-53.
Then she grabbed a rebound after a missed field goal by Central Michigan (11-13, 6-7 MAC) and was fouled. Fontaine hit both free throws to send Ball State to a somewhat comfortable 62-53 lead with 3:54 to play.
“Like coach said, in the beginning I wasn't that hot and sat out; it felt like a long time,” Fontaine said. “Someone had to … I knew the (offensive) boards, for example, those plays are going to win games.
“I was just thinking, 'We can't lose the game. I have to do what I have to do.' ”
One of the leading candidates for MAC Player of the Year, Fontaine finished with a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds for her third double-double in the past four games. She has scored double figures in 22 of 24 games this year and has had a career-best 15 rebounds in two games.
Six of her rebounds against the Chippewas were on the offensive glass.
“In the second half, she was really efficient,” Sallee said of Fontaine's 4-for-4 shooting for 11 points. “She played the game differently, and that's what good players do. She was able to adjust. That's the part of it that makes her a great player. She responds and doesn't get pouty or (go) 'Woe is me.' ”
Fontaine had lots of help in the game. Shelbie Justice finished with 22 points – she hit 5-of-6 3-pointers - and nabbed eight rebounds. She tied the score 51-51 with a layup and scored seven more points after that.
“One of our keys coming into the game was rebounding,” Justice said. “Our focus was to crash (the boards) and we knew (Central Michigan wasn't) going to box out, so we had to go and rebound the ball.”
Center Renee Bennett tied her career high with eight rebounds as she, Justice and Fontaine combined for 12 offensive boards and 26 rebounds overall.
Calyn Hosea had a career-high seven assists, and Candyce Ussery added four assists. Jill Morrison had 11 points.
The victory kept the Cardinals on top of the MAC West standings, a game ahead of Western Michigan.
“I think (players) understand we're going to get everybody's best shot,” Sallee said. “If there's a night where we're average, we're going to be disappointed. That's what this time of year is about when you're on top. You have to fight like the dickens to stay on top.”
The Cardinals will travel to Northern Illinois for a 2 p.m. game Saturday.
With tonight's women's basketball win over CMU, all day tomorrow, Thursday, at the three Muncie-area Burger King locations, you can get a Whopper Combo Meal for only $4.00!!! Celebrate the Cardinals victory with $4 Whopper value meals all day tomorrow at the three Muncie Burger King locations
