Fort Wayne - As the final seconds ticked down Sunday afternoon, a wayward Valparaiso University shot bounced off the rim and into Porchia Green's hands.
After leading Ball State University on a 20-4 run in the last 6:32 of regulation, propelling the Cardinals to a 68-59 victory over the Crusaders, it was a fitting way to finish the contest. Green finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Cardinals in both categories. Ball State coach Tracy Roller said Green's performance represented the greatest aspect of her team - its depth.
"That's what is so dangerous about our team - we have several weapons," Roller said. "It's hard to stop a team when they have multiple holes because you can plug some of them, but you can't plug all the holes. You never know who will have that breakout game, and today it just happened to be Porchia."
While Green is used more for her defensive pressure and did have two steals in the game, it was her offense that made the difference down the stretch. The sophomore hit three 3-point field goals during the deciding run, including a trey with 4:35 left that gave Ball State its first lead since it was 4-3 with 18:32 remaining in the first half.
After the game, Green had a simple explanation for her ability to come through in the clutch.
"Every practice I work on my shooting," Green said. "I thought that if I practiced my shots in practice I might as well shoot in the game."
After trailing 35-32 at intermission, the Cardinals held Valparaiso to 24 points in the second half. Carrie Myers led the Crusaders with 12 points in the game, all of which came on 3-pointers. However, the senior shot 0-4 from behind the arc in the second half after making all four of her 3-point attempts in the opening period.
Myers credited the Cardinals' defense and a lack of offensive ball movement for the difference between halves.
"Ball State did do a good job on defense in the second half, but we helped them out because we stopped moving the ball," Myers said. "It's hard to get good shots when you're not moving the ball on offense."
Playing in her hometown of Fort Wayne, Ball State point guard Kelsey Corbin flirted with foul trouble, picking up her third personal foul in the first minute of the second half.
However, Corbin managed to play with three fouls the rest of the way, providing 15 points and four assists to the Cardinals' cause. The senior said winning in the place she played her high school basketball was special.
"I think it was really more special just for the win," Corbin said. "It was a big win for us because we needed to respond after our loss (at Illinois State on Wednesday) and start a new (winning) streak. But it always makes you happy when you're able to play well in front of your hometown fans."
Roller believes the timing at which the victory came and the type of win it was should prove to be beneficial to her squad down the road.
"I think it was a big win for us, especially coming after our first loss," Roller said. "I think we could end up looking back at this win later in the season and realizing today was a big part of our season."
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