Ball State women’s basketball (18-4, 10-0) won its 12th straight contest in a 61-51 battle against Western Michigan (8-12, 5-5). Although the Cardinals came out on top, the win did not come easy.

Here are three takeaways from the 10th Mid-American Conference (MAC) win.

Inefficient first quarter.

When the clock hit double zeros at the end of the first period, Western Michigan led Ball State 10-8. The Cardinals are averaging 17.3 points in the first quarter on the season.

As a team, the Cardinals shot just 3-for-14 from the field and were 2-for-9 from deep. Ball State has not lived by the three-ball this season and has relied more on its heavy inside presence. But even the paint production was down.

Just two points came from the paint, and the bucket came with under two minutes to play in the period. Senior Alex Richard, who has been dominant down low, scored the lone paint bucket. Richard also had four first-quarter rebounds, the only boards the Cardinals came down with.

Western Michigan out-rebounded Ball State 13-to-8 and the Broncos picked up six offensive boards. Ball State was able to pick up two second-chance points in the first.

Senior Marie Kiefer did tally two blocks, but one came from the three-point line, where she deflected a ball into the first row of the bleachers. The inefficiency from the field, and lack of paint production, were uncharacteristic of Ball State’s current play while on its win streak.

The Cardinals have had their share of slow starts, though. In the last few home games, Ball State has seemed sluggish until the first media timeout where they can make some adjustments. The slow play out of the gate did not prove to be a difference maker though in the result of the contest.

All Cardinals in the third quarter.

The first half was slow and Ball State did not look like the team it has through the MAC slate. Missed shots, passing up on open opportunities and losing the rebound battle up until the third were all oddities.

Ball State has excelled in rebounding and has out-rebounded MAC opponents by almost four a game. The Broncos out-rebounded Ball State for the entire first half and most of the third quarter, until a big rebound and put-back from Richard with five-and-some-change to go in the third quarter.

Richard, who excelled on the boards in the second half, finished with nine rebounds and 23 points. 19 of those came in the second half. Western Michigan did not score until the 4:27 mark of the third quarter, on a free throw.

The Cardinals were 5-for-15 in the quarter and outscored the Broncos 22-to-14.

The offensive production improved, but the defense was the difference-maker. Ball State turned Western Michigan over 20 times in the contest, with nine steals and seven blocks. Five of the seven came from senior Marie Kiefer. The Cardinals turned defense into offense and scored 23 points off turnovers.

Cardinals play statistically sound basketball.

The coaching cliches of having productive possessions, taking care of the ball and limiting turnovers, rebounding the ball and limiting mistakes rang true in the win today.

Ball State played one of the more statistically sound games so far this season. Ball State only committed six personal fouls, turned the ball over nine times and lost the rebound battle, but only by three at 33-30.

The Cardinals were able to play clean defensively, limiting the chances for the Broncos at the charity stripe. Western Michigan attempted just six free throws, hitting all but one of them.

Ball State shot a much higher 22 free throws compared to Western Michigan’s six. The Cardinals took advantage and shot at an excellent 86.4 percent from the charity stripe.

Second-chance points were in favor of the Cardinals as well, 12-to-4. When they play the way they did in the second half, there are not many MAC teams that play at the same level.

Ball State remains at home for its next contest against Bowling Green Feb. 5. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. from Worthen Arena.

Contact Logan Connor via email at logan.connor@bsu.edu or X @_loganconnor

Share