Close But No Cigar

Sophomore Audrey McDonald in action against Louisville (BSU Photo Services).

In spite of last year’s 24-7 record and WNIT berth, the Ball State Women’s Basketball team wasn’t satisfied. They failed achieve their season-long goal of qualifying for the NCAA tournament. Many believed the Cardinals’ weak non-conference schedule was the reason they didn’t receive an at-large bid for the Big Dance. That excuse won’t work this year, as Ball State’s 07-08 schedule features several prominent names and even a nationally-ranked school. In their first three games, the Lady Cards got just what they needed to get on the radar – quality opponents. Unfortunately, Ball State has been unable to take advantage of these opportunities and is off to a 1-2 start.

If the Cardinals hope to have success against top-caliber teams, they must play better down the stretch. They opened their season on November 10th, when they welcomed nationally-ranked Louisville to Worthen Arena. A rally near the end of the first half gave Ball State a 3-point lead going into the locker room at 39-36. However, second-half shooting doomed the Cardinals to an unfamiliar 0-1 start. They shot below 30% from the field after the break, and their last field goal came with more than seven minutes remaining in the contest. It didn’t help that Ball State was outscored 54-18 in the paint and 9-0 off the bench. They were forced to settle for long range shots late in the game instead of driving to the basket and drawing fouls, as they did in the first half. A 17-for-21 effort from the line in the first half was followed by a 4-5 effort in the second.

Perhaps Ball State would have benefitted from a stronger student section. After seeing over 7,000 people pack the stands the night before for the Men’s season opener, Worthen welcomed less than 2,000 fans to come and see – arguably – the best team on campus from a year ago. Those that did show up belted out chants of “Let’s Go Cardinals”…which is all well and good when only ONE of the teams playing has a Cardinal mascot. Louisville must have felt right at home in Muncie. Sorry, ladies – this one’s on us.

Final score: Cardinals (the ones from Louisville) 81, Cardinals (the ones from Muncie) 62. Sophomore Audrey McDonald’s 5-10 performance from 3-point range and 19 total points kept the margin from growing even larger. Senior Julie DeMuth, who led the team in scoring last season, attempted just three field goals and finished with 10 points.

Although DeMuth bounced back against Indiana last Saturday with 24 points and 11 rebounds, the Cardinals did not. Once again, a lead at halftime turned into a tough loss. In the first five minutes of the game, the Cardinals flew to a 15-13 advantage and were scoring at will with penetration to the basket and spot-up threes. Fifteen points in five minutes – they were on track to score 120! The pace was so fast that the Cardinals were running right out of their shoes…literally. Reserve Kyleigh Jones lost her shoe on one play, prompting a timeout and a rare stop in the action.

A 2-3 zone by the Ball State defense helped the Cardinals build an impressive 33-17 lead. They swarmed to the ball relentlessly and forced several Indiana turnovers before the Hoosiers made a run of their own. Ball State led by just two at the half, 38-36, and the two teams played evenly to a 50-50 tie at the ten-minute mark of the second half. Despite DeMuth’s dominant performance in the paint and double-figure scoring efforts from Lisa Rusche, Porchia Green, and Kiley Jarrett, the Hoosiers were able to knock down enough shots in the closing minutes to hold off the Cardinals.

Final score: Indiana > Ball State. To coach Tracy Roller, this inequality is all that matters. There are no such things as moral victories for these players, who will accept nothing short of an NCAA tournament appearance. Their lone victory thus far came in a 61-52 win at Wright State sandwiched between their Louisville and Indiana losses. The Lady Cards have yet to show the basketball nation what they are capable of accomplishing, and they can’t say that the opportunities haven’t been there. Ball State faced two quality opponents – one a Big Ten school and an in-state rival, the other a nationally-ranked Big East powerhouse – and even got to host both contests. They’ve got the schedule strong enough to gain national respect, but unless the Cardinals can come away with wins in the big games, it will all be for naught. Playing opponents close will not be enough, nor will halftime leads. The Ball State Women’s Basketball team follows its 76-71 loss to Indiana with a November 23rd game against Vermont at the La Quinta Inn & Suites Thanksgiving Tournament. Let’s hope that this squad gives us a little something extra to be thankful for over break.