MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Senior Kate Endress had been within two points of topping her career high in points three times this season. Tuesday night, she finally broke it in a narrow 68-67 victory at Central Michigan.
"It's definitely the icing on the cake at this point," Endress said. "We really needed this win going into the MAC Tournament."
Ball State needed each and every one of Endress's 30 points, too. With 14 seconds remaining, Endress's final two points of the game gave the Cardinals the lead. Central turned the ball over with three seconds remaining, Erica Cotton dribbled out the clock, and BSU ended the regular season with its fourth straight win.
"The last home game and the last regular-season game couldn't have been scripted any better," Roller said about Endress. "It's a perfect game for a perfect career for a great player."
Hampton had an opportunity to tie the game with 1:09 remaining when she went to the line for a one-and-one. She made the first foul shot and missed the second, but Endress retrieved the long rebound near baseline and called a timeout to give the Cardinals another possession.
"It just came down to possession basketball down at the end," Endress said. "We just needed the ball back. It was kind of something that was basically just instinct."
Erica Cotton used that possession and hit a jumper with 57 seconds remaining to put her team on top 66-65. Central's Ann Skufca answered with a jumper of her own with 37 seconds remaining, but Endress's shot proved to be the difference.
Ball State shot 48 percent from the floor, including a five-of-10 performance from behind the arc. Endress was 12 of 22, including three of three from behind the arc.
"We're shooting really well right now, and that's helping us be our best," Roller said.
Ball State then jumped out to a 10-3 lead early, but the Chippewas scored six straight to get within 18-17. Later Central used an 11-2 run, in which Sharonda Hurd scored seven of the points, to get a 29-27 advantage with 4:03 remaining in the first half.
After going back and fourth to finish the half, the teams went into halftime tied at 35.
The Chippewas got their largest lead after a 9-0 run early in the second half, giving them a 48-41 advantage.
The Cardinals answered with a 9-0 spurt of their own to get back on top 52-51. The only point the rest of the game in which a team had a large lead was when CMU's Lindy Hatfield hit a 3-pointer with 4:00 remaining to give her team a six-point advantage.
"Anytime you can go into the tournament with four-game win streak, that's exactly where you want to be," Endress said. "I'm excited about where we stand."
Ball State will now prepare for the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament in which it will face Akron at 4 p.m. on Saturday in Worthen Arena.
The team is now focused on getting four more wins and becoming the first team in school history to win a women's basketball MAC Championship.
"Our ultimate goal is to go somewhere where this program has never gone," Roller said. "If you put that star out there, you've got to go for it."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
