Entering Saturday's Hoosier Classic matchup against Butler University, Ball State University forward Lisa Rusche had 29 total points in the first four games of her junior season.
However, the forward scored a career-high 36 points against the Bulldogs, propelling the Cardinals to a 97-65 blowout at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Before the contest, Ball State coach Tracy Roller stated Rusche would be the deciding factor for the Cardinals. After the final seconds ticked away, the coach reinstated her belief.
"I really thought that, with her athleticism in the post, she could come in here and really have a good game," Roller said. "We had great post-to-post ball movement, and Lisa just dominated all game long. Butler really struggled to defend her."
Rusche, whose previous career high was a 13-point performance against Howard University earlier this season, said she was always confident in her ability to be an offensive force, even if others never thought of her to be so.
"We have great guards, and they kept feeding me all game," Rusche said. "I think a lot of people looked at me as a silent killer. But after this, they'll probably be looking at me as more of a scoring threat."
The Cardinals were able to take Butler out of its game by running the floor on the break. Ball State outscored Butler 10-0 on fast break points and forced the Bulldogs into 20 turnovers for a 27-6 edge in points scored off turnovers.
"We were able to do what we do best," Rusche said. "We want to run any chance we get, and today we used our defense to get our offense going on the break."
When Ball State wasn't on the break, it used crisp ball movement to get good looks at the basket in the half court. Ball State had 24 assists on 33 field goals, while turning the ball over just 11 times.
Junior forward Julie DeMuth, who finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists on the game, said the team's ability to get clean looks was the result of Butler collapsing on the low post.
"I think the defense really collapsed on Lisa and me in the low post," DeMuth said. "When they collapsed, we just kicked the ball out to our guards for open shots, and they were able to knock them down."
DeMuth finished the contest shooting 0-for-3 from the field. However, the junior made 15-of-16 free throws.
The 15 free throws tied a Ball State single-game record, but DeMuth said she had mixed emotions about the way she scored her points.
"They kept getting it to me in the post, and I tried to convert [my field goal attempts]," DeMuth said. "It's kind of funny that I didn't hit a field goal, but I scored 15 points. I shot really well from the line, so I'll take the points however I can get them."
Statistically, the Cardinals dominated across the board. Roller said the game was one of the few moments in her career where everything went right.
"Very few times in a coaching career do you have a game where everything seems to be clicking," Roller said. "I was worried about our defense coming in here, and how they'd do against Butler's half-court sets. But we really played great in all facets of the game today."
The victory put Ball State at 5-0 for the second consecutive year, tying a program record for the best record to start a season. A victory at Illinois State University on Wednesday would give the Cardinals their best start to a season -¡- ever.
"I'm really confident with our team right now," Roller said. "I'd have to think with the way we've been playing lately we're going to be tough to beat. This team is very focused on setting a school record and getting our sixth-straight victory to start the year."
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