Saturday, January 4
Muncie, Ind.
1:00 PM ET
Ball State University
9-4,1-0MAC
66
vs
62
Kent State
7-5,0-1MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Kent St.
12
14
17
19
62
Ball St.
16
8
20
22
66
Photo by: Ball State Athletics
Freeman’s Free Throws Moves WBB Past Kent State, 66-62
January 04, 2020 | Women's Basketball
Freeman went 4-fo-4 from the free throw line in the closing seconds to secure the win for the Cardinals
MUNCIE, Ind. - Freshman guard Sydney Freeman went 4-for-4 from the line to help the Cardinals open Mid-American Conference action on a high note with Ball State's 66-62 victory over Kent State Saturday afternoon in Worthen Arena.
It came to no surprise that the Cardinals (9-4, 1-0 MAC) league opener against Kent State (7-5, 0-1 MAC) today would come down to the wire. Ball State almost doubled its point total in the second half to take the victory from Kent State. The Cardinals scored 42 points in the last 20 minutes of action after only scoring 24 in the first half.
The game today was tied nine times with eight lead changes. It wasn't until the 1:27 mark in the final stanza that the Cardinals had finally built themselves a seven-point cushion (61-54).
Unfortunately, that breathing room didn't last long, Kent State turned up its half court defense and would capitalize of some plays underneath the basket, allowing the Golden Flashes to make it a three-point (64-61) ball game with just 20 seconds on the clock. Fortunately for the Cardinals, Freeman drew some fouls that sent her to the line twice. Freeman would then go 4-for-4 from the charity stripe to secure the win for Ball State.
The Cardinals came out strong offensively attacking the rim immediately at the start of the third quarter. Freshman Annie Rauch, sophomore Thelma Dis Agustsdottir along with sophomore Blake Smith all made their presence known in the paint. Ball State's inside game allowed things to open up from behind the arc. Both Jasmin Samz and Freeman knocked down 3-pointers within seconds of one another to give Ball State the 38-32 lead over Kent State at the 5:57 mark.
After that, Kent State and Ball State continued to swap baskets the remainder of the third frame. Luckily, Samz revived the Cardinals as time expired in the third quarter to give Ball State a one-point advantage (44-43).
Both teams chopped at each other's heels at the start of the contest. The game was tied twice in the first minute of action. Kent State went on a quick scoring spurt to take a 10-4 lead over Ball State at the 6:43 mark. The Cardinals and the Golden Flashes went scoreless for a two- minute span before Freeman knocked down a 3-point basket to break the drought. The Cardinals would build off that, closing the first quarter with a 12-8 run to take the 16-12 edge over Kent State heading into the second frame.
Kent State took charge early in the second quarter, outscoring Ball State 14-8 while defensively holding the Cardinals to 14.3 (2-14) shooting percentage from the field. The Cardinals used an 8-5 run the remainder of the second period to keep the contest within reach at the half. The Golden Flashes led by only two (26-24) at intermission.
For the game, Freeman led the Cardinals in scoring with a new season high 16 points while also dishing out six assists. Samz finished the game with 14 points while Agustsdottir chipped in 11 points.
The Ball State women's basketball team continues Mid-American Conference play when it travels to Bowling Green Wednesday for a 7 p.m. start in the Stroh Center. The Cardinals have won their last nine contests against the Falcons.
It came to no surprise that the Cardinals (9-4, 1-0 MAC) league opener against Kent State (7-5, 0-1 MAC) today would come down to the wire. Ball State almost doubled its point total in the second half to take the victory from Kent State. The Cardinals scored 42 points in the last 20 minutes of action after only scoring 24 in the first half.
The game today was tied nine times with eight lead changes. It wasn't until the 1:27 mark in the final stanza that the Cardinals had finally built themselves a seven-point cushion (61-54).
Unfortunately, that breathing room didn't last long, Kent State turned up its half court defense and would capitalize of some plays underneath the basket, allowing the Golden Flashes to make it a three-point (64-61) ball game with just 20 seconds on the clock. Fortunately for the Cardinals, Freeman drew some fouls that sent her to the line twice. Freeman would then go 4-for-4 from the charity stripe to secure the win for Ball State.
.?@BSUCoachBrady? comments after the game about ?@sydneyfreeman24? competitiveness in today's win against Kent State!#ChirpChirp | #WeFly pic.twitter.com/nKFG4wOUF6
— Ball State WBB (@BallStateWBB) January 4, 2020
The Cardinals came out strong offensively attacking the rim immediately at the start of the third quarter. Freshman Annie Rauch, sophomore Thelma Dis Agustsdottir along with sophomore Blake Smith all made their presence known in the paint. Ball State's inside game allowed things to open up from behind the arc. Both Jasmin Samz and Freeman knocked down 3-pointers within seconds of one another to give Ball State the 38-32 lead over Kent State at the 5:57 mark.
After that, Kent State and Ball State continued to swap baskets the remainder of the third frame. Luckily, Samz revived the Cardinals as time expired in the third quarter to give Ball State a one-point advantage (44-43).
Both teams chopped at each other's heels at the start of the contest. The game was tied twice in the first minute of action. Kent State went on a quick scoring spurt to take a 10-4 lead over Ball State at the 6:43 mark. The Cardinals and the Golden Flashes went scoreless for a two- minute span before Freeman knocked down a 3-point basket to break the drought. The Cardinals would build off that, closing the first quarter with a 12-8 run to take the 16-12 edge over Kent State heading into the second frame.
Kent State took charge early in the second quarter, outscoring Ball State 14-8 while defensively holding the Cardinals to 14.3 (2-14) shooting percentage from the field. The Cardinals used an 8-5 run the remainder of the second period to keep the contest within reach at the half. The Golden Flashes led by only two (26-24) at intermission.
For the game, Freeman led the Cardinals in scoring with a new season high 16 points while also dishing out six assists. Samz finished the game with 14 points while Agustsdottir chipped in 11 points.
The Ball State women's basketball team continues Mid-American Conference play when it travels to Bowling Green Wednesday for a 7 p.m. start in the Stroh Center. The Cardinals have won their last nine contests against the Falcons.
Team Stats
KentSt
BSU
FG%
.393
.383
3FG%
.286
.471
FT%
.833
.800
RB
38
39
TO
9
8
STL
4
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
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