Saturday, February 25
MUNCIE, IND.
2:00 PM
Ball State University
81
vs
73
Central Michigan University
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Women's Basketball Tied For Top Spot In MAC With Win Over CMU
February 25, 2017 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State women's basketball team is now tied for the top spot in the Mid-American Conference with its 81-73 defeat over Central Michigan (21-7, 13-3 MAC) Saturday afternoon in Worthen Arena.
With the win, the Cardinals are now 20-8 overall and 13-3 in conference action. Fifth-year Ball State head women's basketball coach Brady Sallee becomes only the second coach in program history to have back-to-back 20 win seasons. Ball State also earned a first round bye to the upcoming 2017 MAC Tournament in Cleveland with today's victory. This marks the fourth time under Sallee the Cardinals have earned their ticket straight to Cleveland.
Junior forward Moriah Monaco became the 27th player in program history to reach 1,000 points in today's contest. Monaco ended the game with 20 points, six rebounds and three assists. She is the third Cardinal to reach 1,000 career points this season. This is the first time in program history the Cardinals have had three 1,000 point scorers in the same season. Sophomore guard Destiny Washington came off the bench and led the Cardinals with 21 points and 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double this season. Senior center Renee Bennett had 18 points while teammate sophomore guard Carmen Grande finished the day with 16.
For the game, Ball State proved to be better than Central Michigan in most of the statistical categories. The Cardinals were better on the boards after out-rebounding the Chippewas 37-to-32. Ball State won points in the paint (34-to-22), points off turnovers (17-to-2), second chance points (10-of-2) and shot better from the field (48.4-to-45.9). The Cardinals also took care of the ball today after only committing six turnovers while forcing Central Michigan to commit 11 miscues. Ball State also held the Chippewas leading scorer, Presley Hudson to only four points.
Ball State's defense was on point to start the contest, as they held the second best scoring team in the MAC to only two points for the first four minutes of play. The Cardinals outscored the Chippewas 8-2 during that stretch. Monaco (11) and Bennett (7) accounted for 18 of the Cardinals 20 first quarter points.
The Chippewas proved why they are one of the top teams in the conference, opening the second quarter with a 16-4 run to cut the Cardinals 14-point first quarter lead to four, 24-20, with just over six minutes left in the second period. But Ball State kept its composure and quickly went back up by seven (29-22). During that run, Monaco became the 28th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points after knocking down a 3-point basket at the 4:32 mark. Senior guard Jill Morrison hit a 3-pointer with 32 seconds left in the quarter and Grande hit a layup at the buzzer to give Ball State the 10-point (40-30) advantage over Central Michigan at intermission.
Central Michigan went on a 16-8 run to open the third quarter to make it a one-possession ball game (48-46) at the media timeout. Central Michigan continued to take control eventually taking its first lead of the contest (57-56) at the 1:47 mark. But a basket from Bennett to close the quarter gave the Cardinals a slight lead, 58-57, heading into the final stanza.
Both teams proved why they were the top two teams in the conference in the final quarter. After trading basket for over five minutes, Ball State finally forced some separation after back-to-back baskets from Washington to take back a 72-66 advantage over the Chippewas with 4:04 left on clock. After the final media timeout, the Cardinals had a refuse-to-lose attitude, with key baskets from Washington and a huge defensive stop, blocking a 3-point attempt from Central Michigan Presley Hudson. A rebound from Washington all but sealed the win. With only 16 seconds to play, the Chippewa's were forced to send the Cardinals to the line. Washington would end the contest for Ball State at the charity stripe.
The Cardinals have two games remaining in the Mid-American Conference regular season when it travels to Eastern Michigan Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. tipoff in the Convocation Center before closing out conference play at home Saturday at 2 p.m. against the Toledo Rockets in Worthen Arena.
With the win, the Cardinals are now 20-8 overall and 13-3 in conference action. Fifth-year Ball State head women's basketball coach Brady Sallee becomes only the second coach in program history to have back-to-back 20 win seasons. Ball State also earned a first round bye to the upcoming 2017 MAC Tournament in Cleveland with today's victory. This marks the fourth time under Sallee the Cardinals have earned their ticket straight to Cleveland.
Junior forward Moriah Monaco became the 27th player in program history to reach 1,000 points in today's contest. Monaco ended the game with 20 points, six rebounds and three assists. She is the third Cardinal to reach 1,000 career points this season. This is the first time in program history the Cardinals have had three 1,000 point scorers in the same season. Sophomore guard Destiny Washington came off the bench and led the Cardinals with 21 points and 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double this season. Senior center Renee Bennett had 18 points while teammate sophomore guard Carmen Grande finished the day with 16.
For the game, Ball State proved to be better than Central Michigan in most of the statistical categories. The Cardinals were better on the boards after out-rebounding the Chippewas 37-to-32. Ball State won points in the paint (34-to-22), points off turnovers (17-to-2), second chance points (10-of-2) and shot better from the field (48.4-to-45.9). The Cardinals also took care of the ball today after only committing six turnovers while forcing Central Michigan to commit 11 miscues. Ball State also held the Chippewas leading scorer, Presley Hudson to only four points.
Ball State's defense was on point to start the contest, as they held the second best scoring team in the MAC to only two points for the first four minutes of play. The Cardinals outscored the Chippewas 8-2 during that stretch. Monaco (11) and Bennett (7) accounted for 18 of the Cardinals 20 first quarter points.
The Chippewas proved why they are one of the top teams in the conference, opening the second quarter with a 16-4 run to cut the Cardinals 14-point first quarter lead to four, 24-20, with just over six minutes left in the second period. But Ball State kept its composure and quickly went back up by seven (29-22). During that run, Monaco became the 28th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points after knocking down a 3-point basket at the 4:32 mark. Senior guard Jill Morrison hit a 3-pointer with 32 seconds left in the quarter and Grande hit a layup at the buzzer to give Ball State the 10-point (40-30) advantage over Central Michigan at intermission.
Central Michigan went on a 16-8 run to open the third quarter to make it a one-possession ball game (48-46) at the media timeout. Central Michigan continued to take control eventually taking its first lead of the contest (57-56) at the 1:47 mark. But a basket from Bennett to close the quarter gave the Cardinals a slight lead, 58-57, heading into the final stanza.
Both teams proved why they were the top two teams in the conference in the final quarter. After trading basket for over five minutes, Ball State finally forced some separation after back-to-back baskets from Washington to take back a 72-66 advantage over the Chippewas with 4:04 left on clock. After the final media timeout, the Cardinals had a refuse-to-lose attitude, with key baskets from Washington and a huge defensive stop, blocking a 3-point attempt from Central Michigan Presley Hudson. A rebound from Washington all but sealed the win. With only 16 seconds to play, the Chippewa's were forced to send the Cardinals to the line. Washington would end the contest for Ball State at the charity stripe.
The Cardinals have two games remaining in the Mid-American Conference regular season when it travels to Eastern Michigan Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. tipoff in the Convocation Center before closing out conference play at home Saturday at 2 p.m. against the Toledo Rockets in Worthen Arena.
Players Mentioned
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