Brady Sallee had 151 career wins going into Ball State’s women’s NIT matchup at Minnesota, but none of them were in the postseason.
He can add that item to his resume as the Cardinals beat the Gophers, 54-51.
“I’ve never had this accomplishment before,” Sallee said. “To do it with this team is special.”
Sallee praised his team’s physicality and toughness in the game.
“I thought we had it in us, but you never know until you see it play out. It’s just a huge, huge win for our program.”
Minnesota had averaged 70 points per game during the season, but Ball State held them 19 points behind that average on Friday night.
Ball State had to contend with the second-highest leading scorer in the Big Ten on Friday, sophomore guard Rachel Banham.
Banham came into the game averaging 21 points per game on 44 percent shooting. She was also averaging almost two 3-pointers per game.
Ball State held her to just 12 points on 5-of-21 from the field.
“To hold her nine or 10 points under her average was just an unbelievable effort by Brandy and the whole team,” Sallee said.
Junior Brandy Woody also contributed on offense. She scored a game-high 19 points, the most points she’s scored in two months.
“It’s the same way we’re won all year,” Sallee said. “We just followed the gameplan, defended the heck out of them, controlled the tempo and at the end of the game it was just enough.”
It almost wasn’t enough nearing the end of the game. Ball State had a 16-point lead with six minutes to go after senior Shanee’ Jackson hit a 3-pointer.
Minnesota then chipped away at the Ball State lead, capitalizing on Ball State’s turnovers and missed shots.
The Gophers had the deficit to just two points with 1:13 remaining after a Minnesota jumper. Ball State passed the ball around between teammates, trying to both burn clock and find an open look.
Guard Brittany Carter found junior forward Katie Murphy, who usually plays very close to the basket, at the free-throw line.
Murphy, who had committed a turnover in the previous possession, didn’t hesitate to attempt the shot. She made it, giving Ball State a 4-point lead with less than a minute to go.
“When she hit that shot, I felt like ‘Alright, this game’s ours,’” Sallee said.
Despite the emotions of the win, Ball State has to lace up its shoes and play in the next round of the WNIT on Sunday against Northern Iowa at Worthen Arena at 2 p.m., giving Sallee a chance to double his postseason win total.
“[The game] was the story of the whole year,” Sallee said. “Just belief.”
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