Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
17-12, 13-5MAC
Toledo
17-12, 10-8MAC
WBB Ends MAC Regular Season With Win Over Toledo
March 07, 2015 | Women's Basketball
By Doug Zaleski
BallStateSports.com
Ball State women's basketball coach Brady Sallee plans to impress upon his players that next week is business as usual despite a point in the season that clearly is filled with high stakes.
The Cardinals wrapped up their regular season Saturday with a 71-55 victory against Toledo in Worthen Arena. Now they can turn their full attention to the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
The event begins Monday with first-round games, but as the team with the second-best record (13-5) in the MAC the Cardinals earned the No. 2 seed and a berth in the semifinals Friday afternoon at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
“There's going to be a lot of hype as we go to Cleveland,” said Shelbie Justice, who was honored on Senior Day. “We have to worry day-by-day how we prepare when we get to Cleveland.
“It's a good spot, but we can't overlook it.”
Justice said that might have happened in 2013 when the Cardinals gained the No. 2 seed and started the MAC Tournament needing just two wins to advance to the NCAA Tournament. Instead, Ball State fell 70-61 to Akron in the semifinals and settled for a trip to the WNIT.
Sallee plans to make this week as normal as possible, starting Monday with a regular weightlifting session and the return to classes for students after spring break.
“(Being the 2 seed) is different in that we don't know yet who we're playing,” he said. “The whole idea is to just be at our best. We'll probably leave late Wednesday, practice there Thursday and watch some of those games. … I'm looking forward to seeing how we go through this week.”
The Cardinals (17-12, 13-5 MAC) got an early start on focusing on a goal against the Rockets (17-12, 10-8 MAC) as they were intent on sending Justice out a winner in her final home game.
Ball State held Toledo scoreless for nearly 7 minutes at the start of the game and never trailed. The Cardinals led 32-21 at halftime and enjoyed their largest lead (22 points) at 61-39 with 6:21 remaining.
Sophomore guard Jill Morrison was the offensive catalyst, pouring in a game-high 20 points. The Winchester, Ind., native hit a career-best six 3-point field goals on eight attempts and also added seven rebounds and four assists.
She attributed good execution and swift ball movement by her teammates for the good shooting positions she had.
“And I was able to knock them down,” Morrison said. “You hit your first one and you feel good … and as it keeps rolling on, it feels better.”
Sophomore center Renee Bennett scored a career-high 18 points, including an 8-for-8 effort at the free-throw line that led to the Cardinals making 16-of-17 at the stripe.
Nathalie Fontaine added 12 points, and Calyn Hosea led with five assists.
The MAC Tournament starts Monday with five campus-site games. The scene shifts to Cleveland starting Wednesday. Ball State's game Friday will start at 2:30 p.m. with the other semifinal at noon between No. 1 Ohio and an opponent to be determined.
The semifinal winners will play for the championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament at 1 p.m. Saturday.
