Ball State University
4-4,2-2MAC
University of Toledo
6-2,2-2MAC
WBB Wins In Dominating Fashion Against Toledo Wednesday
January 06, 2021 | Women's Basketball
After Saturday's contest, Ball State ninth-year head coach Brady Sallee must have giving his team a chemistry lesson because tonight's 93-78 victory over Toledo was an all-around team effort.
From start to finish, the Cardinals (4-4, 2-2 MAC) dominated on both offense and defense against the Rockets (6-2, 2-2 MAC)
Sallee commented on Brown's performance after the game, saying she did a great job of understanding where she was going to hurt Toledo tonight and that was down in the paint. He gave her a lot of credit, saying she was a savvy senior that understood here's how the team needs you to play in order to win and thought that was a big part of tonight's outcome.
Brown also got plenty of help from her teammates as four other Cardinals reached double figures. Sophomore Sydney Freeman chipped in 18 points while junior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir had 15. Redshirt sophomore Anna Clephane added 14 points and newcomer Essence Booker finished the night with 13.
The all-around offensive success also had a lot to do with the team's unselfishness which was apparent with their season-high 20 assists, with Freeman dishing out a game-high eight.
Although Ball State led the entire game, we all know in league action the game is not over until it's over, and that was the case again tonight.
Toledo continued to nip at the heels of the Cardinals and would come to within six points (70-64) at the 9:06 mark in the final frame, but Ball State turned up the tempo and never looked back with a lot of help from Brown who scored 17 of her 24 points in the second half.
The Cardinals opened the contest on a mission. Freeman scored the first basket and led Ball State to an impressive 11-2 run to go up by nine with 6:46 remaining in the first quarter. The Cardinals would go on to finish the opening period with a 30-19 edge.
Ball State continued to control the tempo in the second stanza, and while the Rockets made a nice little run to come within seven (44-33) with 3:05 left, a quick layup from Agustsdotttir put the Cardinals back on track.
Ball State took a 48-39 edge over the Rockets into intermission. At the half, seven different Cardinals had scored, with Agustsdottir leading the way with 13 and Freeman with 12.
The Ball State women's basketball team continues Mid-American Conference action Saturday when it travels to Kent State for a noon tip-off at the M.A.C Center.
For the most up-to-date information on the Ball State women's basketball team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BSUCoachBrady and @BallStateWBB both on instagram and twitter.
