After scoring 92 points in the semi-final game of the Ball State University Credit Union Thanksgiving Tournament, the Cardinals entered halftime of the championship contest against IPFW frustrated with a 29-22 deficit.
However, Ball State [4-0] shot 14-for-25 [56%] from the floor in the second half, propelling the Cardinals to their second straight title with a 73-62 victory over the Mastodons.
Junior forward Julie Demuth, who scored 16 points and added 7 rebounds in the championship match to earn tournament Most Valuable Player honors, credited Roller with getting the team in the right gear for the second half.
"She told us that [IPFW] wasn't doing anything to us, we just weren't playing or game," DeMuth said. "We weren't playing as a team. We were looking at the wrong things instead of seeing the openings. So she just came in and mentioned that to us and let us know what was open. In the second half, we came out and did what she said."
Ball State took control of the game with 13 unanswered points to start the second half, giving the Cardinals a 35-29 lead in the first 3:57 of the half.
After missing her lone shot in the first half, freshman guard Audrey McDonald scored seven of Ball State's 13 points during the run, knocking down two three-point field goals and a free throw. Roller said she challenged McDonald, who finished with 10 points on the game, to be more assertive to start the second period.
"I think Audrey was a little tentative in the first half," Roller said. "She got dinged on her thumb during [pre-game] warm-ups, so she wasn't really looking for her shot. I talked to her at halftime and told her, 'You're out there because you deserve it. You need to be more a part of this offense, and we need you to start looking for your shot.' Right away she was looking for her shot, and that's what we need from her."
Ball State leaned heavily on its defense throughout the game, forcing the Mastodons into 18 turnovers while holding them to 44.6 percent from the field. Porchia Green provided the bulk of the pressure on the perimeter with two steals and a block while adding 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists on the offensive end.
However, Green said it was her energy that was most valuable to the Cardinals.
"I'm one of the people who really brings energy to the team," Green said. "I try to pick it up and get the girls going. The more hyper we are the better we play. They were throwing it down our throats in the first half, but we stepped it up in the second."
Ball State won the opening game of the tournament 92-47 against Howard University. Five Cardinal players scored in double figures, headed by Julie DeMuth's 18 points and senior guard Kelsey Corbin's 17 points, six rebounds and six assists. Junior center Lisa Rusche had her first career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds to go with her four blocks and four steals. Both Corbin and Rusche represented Ball State on the all-tourney team.
DeMuth said having multiple weapons is one of the reasons Ball State is so tough to beat.
"One thing that has been very obvious this season is that we're very deep as a team," DeMuth said. "When the starters aren't in we have people coming off the bench that can pick up right where we left off. We just played as a team all tournament, and that's why we won."
It is the second time Ball State has hosted the Thanksgiving tournament. Roller said hosting a women's basketball tournament at Worthen Arena was a dream of hers when she took over the program six years ago, and she credited the athletic department for turning her dream into reality.
"I had the dream to have a tournament here, and the administration really stepped up to make this happen," Roller said. "Last year the administration got the tournament to come here, so they really got it started. Obviously, Ball State Credit Union jumped on board as well. It's just great that we can play at home because it's such a big advantage for us. No one really wants to play us here, so once we do get teams here, I think it should be one of our big goals to start the season off by winning this championship."
The players have seemingly bought into Roller's belief. Green said the tournament is one of the biggest things the players look forward to over the course of the season.
"We got a new thing started because Ball State doesn't really have a tradition for women's basketball," Green said. "So Coach Roller stated last night that we should make this tournament our tradition. Since we won it last year, we wanted to win it this year as well. It feels great that we won because the tradition is being carried on."
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