The last time Ball State University faced Wright State University, the contest ended with the Cardinals on the negative side of the back-and-forth game.
With the afterthoughts lingering in their minds, the Cardinals were looking for more breathing room in the rematch in order to prevent a disappointing d+â-¬j+â-á vu. With Ball State holding a 58-57 lead with 6:06 remaining in the second half, the Cardinals went on an 11-3 run to push their lead to 69-60 with only 3:51 remaining in regulation.
The Raiders never threatened Ball State again as the Cardinals earned a 75-68 victory in the club's home opener.
"That was a big run for us," coach Tracy Roller said. "We reiterated the fact that this was our place, that we had the confidence, and they had to be getting tired because they only had eight players. We just needed to execute the plays, and the kids did."
The Cardinals got off to a slow start, including a span of 5:21 in the first half in which they didn't score a point. The drought put Ball State down 17-8 midway through the opening period. However, Ball State rallied to take a 37-36 lead at intermission.
"The reason why this win was big is because we made it through those rough spots," Roller said. "We were down in both halves, and both times we rallied. We just executed, believed in each other and played as a team. That's going to win you a lot of games."
Julie DeMuth had her first double-double of the season for the Cardinals with 21 points and 12 rebounds. However, the junior forward said it was the solid play of Ball State's bench that provided the difference.
Led by sophomore guard Kiley Jarrett's eight points, four assists and three rebounds, the reserves offered Ball State a total of 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
"We're very deep off the bench," DeMuth said. "When we have everyone playing as well as they did today it's really tough to beat us."
Ball State's standout defender, sophomore guard Porchia Green, tallied four steals for the Cardinals. Roller said the sophomore set the tone for Ball State defensively on the perimeter.
"Wright State was really athletic at the guard position, and Porchia tried to get the ball slowed down by [guarding the point guard full court]," Roller said. "She's awesome defensively. She just makes your life so miserable when you're being guarded by her. She should be in the running for [Mid-American Conference] defensive player of the year because she sets the tone for us defensively."
Green was also able to provide on the offensive end as well. The sophomore scored nine points and added five assists and three rebounds.
"I can score, but I try to fill up the other categories instead of just getting points," Green said. "Then our defense was very important for us today. Our new team goal in order to be a better team is to play better defense. We've picked it up a lot this year, so I'm very proud of how the girls did today."
Ball State will host Howard University, Coastal Carolina University and IPFW in a Thanksgiving weekend tournament this Saturday and Sunday.
DeMuth said the win is a nice transition into the holiday tournament.
"With the Thanksgiving tournament coming up we're going to have a day off to go home and have Thanksgiving," DeMuth said. "Then we're going to come back and go right at it. To get this one out of the way is definitely huge. It was mess, but we pulled it out and that's all that matters."
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