Despite a poor shooting night, Ball State (5-0) held off all attempts by Illinois State to gain momentum in a 65-61 win. Similar to the first four games of the season, the Cardinals used a quick lead to propel them to victory.
With just five minutes left to play in the first half, the Cardinals found themselves with a 15-point advantage in what seemed to be a route in the making.
However, a pesky Illinois State squad stayed within reach, as they closed the half on an 8-2 run and decreased the deficit to nine points. Knowing that the Redbirds (4-1) were going to make it a physical second half, the Cardinals remained confident and used momentum to stay in control. Though the Redbirds started the second half with seven unanswered points and eventually took a one-point lead, Ball State was resilient in sticking to their game plan and worked the ball around offensively.
Ultimately, the game came down to the play of sophomore forward Julie DeMuth. She was dominant in the post, while leading the Cardinals in both scoring and rebounds. DeMuth, who finished with 19 points and 14 boards, played 36 minutes in the game, and was the obvious work-horse for the Cardinals on both sides of the ball.
"It was an extremely physical game, but we were able to stay focused throughout," DeMuth said. "The entire team was positive and in tune."
In the closing minutes, DeMuth came through with some crucial plays that all but guaranteed a Cardinal victory. She knocked down a 3-point shot, took a charge that sent Redbirds center LaShawn Johnson out of the game, and made a great pass to teammate Raechelle Hampton for a lay-up that put the game out of reach for good.
Head coach Tracy Roller said that she has confidence in DeMuth to get the job done.
"She is just sort of the go-to person that will get whatever we need done at the time, if it's a steal or a rebound or an open look or a good pass," Roller said. "As a coach, you get confidence in players by watching demonstrating ability. It's not just in games she does this, she does this every day in practice."
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