For head coach Tracy Roller, the best part about becoming the all-time winningest coach in Ball State women's basketball history might have been the way her team gave it to her -- with defense. The Cardinals limited the Buffalo Bulls to a season-low 49 points, while scoring 73 of their own.
"If there was any present the team could have given me, it would have been to play good defense and they did," Roller said after the game.
Roller earned her 55th career win in three years, passing Robyn Markey, whom compiled 54 wins in seven seasons. Although Roller was honored, she was ready to give up the spotlight.
"I'm just kind of glad it's over, so we can stop focusing on me so much and focus on the people that deserve it and that's the players," Roller said. "I love it here. Ball State's the place I want to be and to be the winningest coach is an honor to me. But I don't like the limelight so I'm ready to get rid of it."
She should have plenty of players to pass it on to, as the Cardinals had 10 players who played double-digit minutes and produced solid efforts, including freshman Kelsey Corbin, who got her first start of the season. Corbin started in place of sophomore Dana Collins, who had a back injury.-á-á-á
Ball State opened with a pair of free throws from senior Julie Just and never looked back. Junior Kate Endress scored nine points in the first 10 minutes to help the Cardinals effort.
The Cards got their first double-digit lead of the game at the 7:17 mark when Endress, who had 11 points in the first half to lead the team, hit a jumper to make it 25-15. After allowing the Bulls five more points, Ball State closed the half with a 7-0 run to go into the break up 36-20.
There would be no runs by Buffalo to allow the Bulls to get back in the game during the second half. The Cardinals would build a lead of 28 points at the 5:00 mark, never letting the Bulls get closer than 15. With 3:19 left and the Bulls down 65-37, they went on an 8-0 run, but it was too late to make a difference and Ball State finished with the 73-49 win.-á
Endress finished with 20 points to lead Ball State in scoring, while senior Johna Goff added nine with eight assists, and senior Jessica Reiter chipped in six points with 11 rebounds. Freshman Becca Bajorek pulled down a career-high seven rebounds.
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