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WBB Hangs on to Win In-State Rivalry Game At IUPUI
December 08, 2021 | Women's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - It comes to no surprise that tonight's in-state rivalry game would come down to the wire. Ball State managed to hang on to 73-67 victory on the road against IUPUI Wednesday night in the Jungle.
With the win, Ball State improves to 5-3 on the season while IUPUI falls to 4-4.
The Cardinals got off to a fast start and took a 36-22 lead at the half. However, the Jaguars battled back in the final two quarters.
IUPUI outscored Ball State 45-37 in the second half and would eventually tie the game 67-67 with two minutes remaining. Junior guard Sydney Freeman drove the lane for a layup and would draw the foul, completing the old-fashioned 3-pointer to put the Cardinals back up by three (70-67).
Ball State then turned up its defense causing a Jaguar turnover that would put the ball back into the hands of Freeman with 17 seconds on the clock. IUPUI was then forced to foul Freeman sending her to the line to shoot two from the charity stripe. Freeman knocked down both free throws which then sealed the win for BSU.
The Cardinals opened tonight's ballgame at IUPUI nearly flawless on both ends of the court. Offensively, Ball State started the contest on an 8-0 scoring spree that started with a layup from true freshman Ally Becki. After that, the Cardinals remained in control shooting 58 percent from the field in the first quarter while defensively holding the Jaguars to only six points.
It was a slow start in the second period for both teams - a few turnovers and missed shots didn't seem to faze the Cardinals. Ball State continued to fight through the chaos to take a 36-22 lead over IUPUI at intermission.
IUPUI took a page out of Ball State's book after the break, outscoring the Cardinals 17-10 in the third frame of action, but mid-way through the Cardinals got back their mojo, beginning with a 3-pointer from senior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir. Ball State then finished the third quarter with an 8-2 run to give BSU a 10-point (54-44) advantage over the Jaguars heading into the final 10 minutes of action.
For the game, the Cardinals placed four in double figures with redshirt junior Anna Clephane leading the way again for BSU with 18 points. Agustsdottir and Freeman each added 15 points and Becki rounded out the double-digit scoring with 10. Defensively, freshman Marie Kiefer pulled down six rebounds as did Agustsdottir.
Statistically, one of the biggest factors in tonight's win over the Jaguars were points in the paint. BSU won that category 44-28.
The Ball State women's basketball team returns to Worthen Arena on Saturday when the Cardinals host Utah State at 1 p.m. ET in Worthen Arena.
To get tickets to the game you can call 888.BSU.TICKET or 765.285.1474 to join the Cardinal Family inside Worthen Arena! Season and group tickets are on sale now. Single game tickets are also available at the numbers listed above and online at Ticketmaster.com.
