Holding onto a lead and winning a conference game on the road can be a very difficult task. The women's basketball team experienced this situation on Wednesday when it blew a nine-point lead with eight minutes remaining.
Ball State University led 52-43 following a Porchia Green jumper, but scored only six points in the last eight minutes of the game, losing at Central Michigan 59-58.
"We had a bad start, and especially on the road, you can't do that," coach Tracy Roller said. "What we can learn is that we have to start better. All the effort plays they got - rebounds, loose balls. We've got to get better at that."
The Cardinals led by four points with two minutes remaining when Roller was called for a technical foul for being outside of the coaching box. Chasidy Myers then drained two technical free throws and hit the front end of a 1-and-1 to pull the Chippewas within one.
"It wasn't a smart decision," said Roller of the technical. "We missed some free throws and they executed really well down the stretch and got all the efforts plays."
After Central took the lead on a jumper, Raechelle Hampton put Ball State ahead with a lay-up with 40 seconds remaining. But a Ball State foul with 18 seconds left sent Sharonda Hurd to the foul line. Hurd then nailed two game-winning free throws.
Tina Bolte had two jump shots to win the game in final seconds, but was unsuccessful.
"I knew Tina was going to get a good look and I'd give it to her in that situation again," Roller said.
A bright spot in the loss was the post play of the Cardinals. Lisa Rusche scored a career-high 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting. She added two blocks in just 12 minutes of action.
Julie DeMuth posted her 10th double-double of the season, hauling in 16 rebounds and scoring 12 points. Hampton added nine points and three boards.
"Rusche played awesome in the first half and kept us in it," Roller said. "I was really proud of our post."
Myers and Hurd each scored 15 points to lead the Chippewas.
Ball State (15-10, 8-6 Mid-American Conference) has two games remaining. The loss ends the Cardinals' goal of finishing the season in the same fashion as they started by winning five straight games.
"I just feel horrible," Roller said. "We had a chance to get a goal like this and circumstances outside of our control took away the game from us."
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