Wednesday, January 25
Buffalo, NY
7:00 PM
Ball State University
14-6 (7-1MAC)
89
at
75
Buffalo
14-5 (4-4MAC)
1
2
3
4
F
Ball State
24
22
21
22
89
Buffalo
16
15
27
17
75
Monaco Scores Career High 35 Points In WBB's Win At Buffalo
January 25, 2017 | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Behind junior forward Moriah Monaco's career high 35-points, the Cardinals earned an 89-75 road win at Buffalo Wednesday night in Alumni Arena. Ball State has now won four-straight, improving to 14-6 overall and 7-1 in conference action. Buffalo falls to 14-5 on the season and now owns a 4-4 conference ledger.
Monaco tied her career best with eight 3-pointers in a game, which she accomplished that same feat last season at Eastern Michigan. Behind Monaco's 35 points, senior center Renee Bennett was the second best scorer for the Cardinals with 24-points and 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season and eighth of her career. Junior guard Frannie Frazier rounded out the double figure scoring with 13-points off of 4-of-6 shooting. Senior guard Carmen Grande true to form had another great night after dishing out 10 assists.
Although Buffalo has been the best rebounding team this season in the MAC, Ball State was able to win the board battle tonight by out rebounding the Bulls, 45-to-37.
Bennett and Monaco scored the first eight points for the Cardinals to give Ball State a quick 8-2 lead over Buffalo at the start of the contest. The Bulls quickly answered with an 8-2 run to knot the game 10-10 with 4:56 remaining in the first quarter. But the Cardinals responded quickly following the media timeout and went on a 14-6 run to assume a 24-16 advantage to end the quarter.
Monaco knocked down a 3-pointer to start the second quarter to put Ball State up by 10 (27-17) but Buffalo quickly retaliated scoring seven of the next 10 points to come within six (30-24) with 7:30 remaining in the period. Junior guard Frannie Frazier was fouled on a layup and would convert the 3-point play to put Ball State back up by eight but Buffalo continued to fight, eventually coming within four (35-31) at the 3:56 mark. After that, the Cardinals ended the half with an 11-0 run, which was capped off by back-to-back baskets from Monaco to give Ball State the 46-31 advantage over Buffalo at intermission.
At the half, Monaco and Bennett had already reached double figures, with Monaco leading all players with 16-points and Bennett had 14. The Cardinals shot 20 percent better than the Bulls in the first half (50.0-to-30.0) and held Buffalo's top scorer to only eight points.
Buffalo stopped Ball State's momentum in the third quarter with some defensive stops and key baskets that cut the Cardinals 15-point halftime lead to seven (54-47) with 4:41 on the clock. Monaco quickly answered with her fourth 3-pointer of the contest to give Ball State back its double digit lead (57-47). Buffalo would not surrender easliy and continued to remain on the heels of the Cardinals. Ball State was able to hold onto a nine-point lead (67-58) to end the third quarter after some key points from Bennett.
Buffalo opened the fourth quarter with an 10-5 run that would bring the Bulls within four (72-68) with 5:41 left on the play clock. But Ball State responded with a 15-7 run for the next four minutes to stretch the margin 12 (87-57) with 52.6 left of competition. Once again it was Monaco who triggered the rally scoring nine points during that stretch. Buffalo could not come back from the Cardinals late scoring spree allowing Ball State to win by 14.
Ball State University will hold a celebration to commemorate '25 Years of Worthen Arena' on Saturday. The men's basketball team is slated to host Western Michigan at 1 p.m., while the women's basketball team is set to take on Northern Illinois at 3:30 p.m. The Jan. 28th doubleheader will feature commemorative programs, customized cups and specially priced items at the concession stands, a student T-shirt giveaway and free cupcakes for fans courtesy of Gigi's Cupcakes while supplies last. Fans will want to be in their seats before the games start to see a video highlighting memorable games, concerts and events from the past 25 years.
Monaco tied her career best with eight 3-pointers in a game, which she accomplished that same feat last season at Eastern Michigan. Behind Monaco's 35 points, senior center Renee Bennett was the second best scorer for the Cardinals with 24-points and 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season and eighth of her career. Junior guard Frannie Frazier rounded out the double figure scoring with 13-points off of 4-of-6 shooting. Senior guard Carmen Grande true to form had another great night after dishing out 10 assists.
Although Buffalo has been the best rebounding team this season in the MAC, Ball State was able to win the board battle tonight by out rebounding the Bulls, 45-to-37.
Bennett and Monaco scored the first eight points for the Cardinals to give Ball State a quick 8-2 lead over Buffalo at the start of the contest. The Bulls quickly answered with an 8-2 run to knot the game 10-10 with 4:56 remaining in the first quarter. But the Cardinals responded quickly following the media timeout and went on a 14-6 run to assume a 24-16 advantage to end the quarter.
Monaco knocked down a 3-pointer to start the second quarter to put Ball State up by 10 (27-17) but Buffalo quickly retaliated scoring seven of the next 10 points to come within six (30-24) with 7:30 remaining in the period. Junior guard Frannie Frazier was fouled on a layup and would convert the 3-point play to put Ball State back up by eight but Buffalo continued to fight, eventually coming within four (35-31) at the 3:56 mark. After that, the Cardinals ended the half with an 11-0 run, which was capped off by back-to-back baskets from Monaco to give Ball State the 46-31 advantage over Buffalo at intermission.
At the half, Monaco and Bennett had already reached double figures, with Monaco leading all players with 16-points and Bennett had 14. The Cardinals shot 20 percent better than the Bulls in the first half (50.0-to-30.0) and held Buffalo's top scorer to only eight points.
Buffalo stopped Ball State's momentum in the third quarter with some defensive stops and key baskets that cut the Cardinals 15-point halftime lead to seven (54-47) with 4:41 on the clock. Monaco quickly answered with her fourth 3-pointer of the contest to give Ball State back its double digit lead (57-47). Buffalo would not surrender easliy and continued to remain on the heels of the Cardinals. Ball State was able to hold onto a nine-point lead (67-58) to end the third quarter after some key points from Bennett.
Buffalo opened the fourth quarter with an 10-5 run that would bring the Bulls within four (72-68) with 5:41 left on the play clock. But Ball State responded with a 15-7 run for the next four minutes to stretch the margin 12 (87-57) with 52.6 left of competition. Once again it was Monaco who triggered the rally scoring nine points during that stretch. Buffalo could not come back from the Cardinals late scoring spree allowing Ball State to win by 14.
Ball State University will hold a celebration to commemorate '25 Years of Worthen Arena' on Saturday. The men's basketball team is slated to host Western Michigan at 1 p.m., while the women's basketball team is set to take on Northern Illinois at 3:30 p.m. The Jan. 28th doubleheader will feature commemorative programs, customized cups and specially priced items at the concession stands, a student T-shirt giveaway and free cupcakes for fans courtesy of Gigi's Cupcakes while supplies last. Fans will want to be in their seats before the games start to see a video highlighting memorable games, concerts and events from the past 25 years.
Team Stats
BALLST
BUF
FG%
.453
.380
3FG%
.391
.360
FT%
.815
.706
RB
45
37
TO
17
14
STL
9
9
Game Leaders
Pts
35
FGM
12
3FGM
8
FTM
3
Pts
24
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
C
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