toledo, ohio - Following a timeout with seven minutes to play against Toledo, not one women's basketball team player showed any emotion as their 15-point half time lead was cut to five points. But as junior Tamara Bowie came off the bench, she gave sophomore Johna Goff a little smile and pat on the head as if to say "We're going to win."
And after a first half in which the Cardinals hit 10 three-point shots, it came down to the Cardinals defense, as it allowed only eight points in the final seven minutes to pull away for a 81-67 victory, securing Ball State the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament and the first Mid-American Conference divisional title in school history.
"We were just hoping they would miss some shots," Toledo head coach Mark Ehlen said. "When they are able to continue to hit shots even when you've got a hand in there face, it's tough."
It was Goff - the smallest member on the team - that played giant killer of the preseason MAC favorites. Goff tied a Ball State record with eight 3-pointers as she led the game with 28 points as the Cardinals (21-6 overall, 13-3 MAC) hit 13 three-point baskets.
"When you're on, you're on, and when we're off we keep shooting," Roller said. "And we were hitting."
Even as Goff was hitting shot after shot, her defense on the league's best three-pointer shooter, Courtney Risinger, changed the way Toledo moved the ball. The smaller, more elusive Goff continually worked her way through screens to keep a hand in Risinger's face, holding her to 25 percent from behind the three-point line. Risinger averages more than 40 percent for the season.
"Goff was so small she could squeeze between our picks," Toledo senior Melantha Herron said. "(Goff) was always in Courtney's face, and it really frustrated her."
"I don't know about it being my best shooting night ever," Goff said. "I just wanted to do whatever to took for my team to win."
But coming out after halftime, Toledo (17-10, 12-4), Herron began to control post play, continually getting offensive rebounds for the Rockets to get second chances. The Rockets got the Cardinals' lead down to five points, but then the post play of senior Amy Fuller and sophomore Jessica Reiter and Jessica Nohl stopped the Rocket onslaught on the boards, double-teaming Herron and forcing turnovers.
"I felt we had to attack inside before we could attack outside," Herron said. "It seemed like every time I got the ball (Ball State) was trapping from somewhere I couldn't see."
The physical play inside kept Herron from scoring in the final five minutes of play, as she showed her frustration with continual looks to the referees for fouls on Ball State.
"Some games are very emotional games," Herron said. "And when you're getting knocked around on both ends of the court and two players are going at each other, emotions just get higher."
Senior Shala Crook scored eight of her 21 points in the last two minutes, all on free throws, as they Rockets could do little but foul to stop the clock. Still, Toledo could not hit a shot as the Cardinal's pulled away for their 14-point victory.
"Our kids came in very focused," head coach Tracy Roller said. "We played with a lot of heart.
"(But) to come in here and win is a dream come true," Roller said. "Toledo is the benchmark where we want to get. There's definitely a new kid on the block."
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