Two of the five Ball State University (16-3, 7-1) women's basketball starters averaged more points in the team's three losses than they did in the team's wins. One of them is leading scorer Julie Demuth.
In the Cardinal's loss to Ohio University Saturday, Demuth led Ball State with 19 points.
Demuth averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds in the losses, while shooting under 38 percent. She shoots more than 45 percent in the wins. Two of Demuth's seven double-doubles this season have come in the three losses. In the one game she didn't record a double-double, at Indiana University, Demuth needed one more rebound for the double-double.
While Demuth has shot worse in the losses, she averages eight more shots, almost five more points and four rebounds more per game.
Lisa Rusche is the other starter to average more points in the team's three losses than in the 16 wins. Rusche averaged 12 points per game in the losses and 10.25 in the wins.
In the losses the Cardinals scored 11.52 points less, and allowed 14.58 points more. So, what has caused a 26.1 scoring swing in the three games verses Illinois State, Indiana and Ohio universities?
In the losses the Cardinals are worse in almost every statistic. The team is worse in shooting percentage, points scored, points allowed, rebounding, bench points and many others.
The Cardinals shoot more than 48 percent in their wins, and less than 38 percent in their losses, including 37 percent Saturday versus Ohio.
"Teams have bad shooting games," Demuth said.
Roller believes the Cardinals just didn't compete Saturday versus Ohio.
"That's something we're not used to," Roller said. "I've never seen that from this team before. We didn't play Ball State basketball."
The loss to Ohio was the first to a team not in the top 100 Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). Ohio was listed 161st out of 335 total teams in the latest RPI rankings on Jan. 21.
"It's unfortunate that we had to lose it at home, but all the hype around us is glad to be over," Roller said.
Ball State has one game, at Buffalo University, left before traveling to the only ranked Mid-American Conference team, Bowling Green State University. The Cardinals don't play Buffalo until Saturday, giving them a full week to rest before they play their final eight regular season games in a 25 day span.
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