Despite a rough start and some inconsistent play, the Ball State University's women's basketball team came through with a 74-65 win over the Ohio Legends in an exhibition matchup.
"I thought everyone played very well," junior guard Kelsey Corbin said. "We had moments where we weren't getting after it defensively. I think we recovered very well."
Sophomore Julie DeMuth led the Cardinals with 20 points. Corbin, junior Tina Bolte and junior Becca Bajorek had double figure points. Bajorek led Ball State with nine rebounds while DeMuth had eight.
"I like being part of a team that has four players in double figures," coach Tracy Roller said. "With this team it may not be the same four or five every night."
The Legends' Valerie King led the game with 24 points, including 17 in the first half.
The Cardinals came out rusty, and allowed King to hit two early threes and allowed the Ohio Legends to lead by as much as six points at 17-11. Ball State then went on a 9-1 run to take the lead for the first time in the night 24-20.
By the end of the first half the Cardinals had amassed a nine point 36-27 lead and were 15-30 shooting.
The Cardinals extended their lead in the second half, scoring the first six points of the half in the paint. They scored their biggest lead of the night when Julie DeMuth put in a behind the back hook shot to give the Cardinals a 51-36 lead. Junior transfer Stephanie Douglas missed two free throws for Ball State, then the Legends scored eight straight to bring the lead back to seven, 51-44.
Ball State maintained that lead before hitting two lay-ups to give the Cards a 12-point 59-47 advantage.
Over the next 4:47 minutes the Cardinals would only make one field goal while the Legends scored 14 of the next 19 points to bring Ball State's lead to three, 64-61. A lay-up from Kelsey Corbin brought the lead to six, then on the next play she made a no look pass to Brandy Ross who hit a five foot jump shot that went off the glass and in to bring the score to 68-61 Ball State with 3:03 to play.
The Legends brought it back to five points with a King lay-up with 1:35 remaining in the game. Bolte made the front end of a one and one to extend the lead to six.
Kelly Adams drove to the basket at the 1:11 mark to lower the Cardinals' lead to four. It was as close as the Legends would get.
On the next play DeMuth made a short lay-up, was fouled, and converted the free throw to move the lead to seven. She would end on a lay-up at the 20 second mark to close the game out.
"[DeMuth] played her butt off," Corbin said.
All of the active roster--everyone but the injured Erica Cotton and senior Raechelle Hampton--saw playing time, and no one saw more than Tina Bolte with 29 minutes.
"That was a team win," Roller said. "Everyone came in and made contributions.
"I definitely think we played the freshmen a lot cause they deserved it and we played the freshmen a lot cause they needed the experience."
The game opened up basketball season for Ball State. They will play the Hoosier Lady Stars on November 13 in Worthen Arena in another exhibition game before starting the regular season at Murray State.
"It's awesome to be back in action," DeMuth said. "I'm really happy to get out there and get started."
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