CLEVELAND --After reaching its third Mid-American Conference championship game in the last six years, Ball State University coach Tracy Roller felt her team had the perfect opportunity to earn the program's first-ever MAC tournament title.
Instead, it was Bowling Green State University that earned its third consecutive tournament championship and an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament with a 67-53 win over the Cardinals.
Ball State struggled offensively, connecting on 18-of-53 [34 percent] from the field. In contrast, the Falcons shot 28-of-46 [60.9 percent] from the field. Cardinals' coach Tracy Roller said Bowling Green played the best game she's seen them play.
"Definitely in the last month, and maybe even the whole year," Roller said. "That's the best I've seen them play. I thought they were in a position that could have been an upset possibility, but they played really well today."
After scoring the first two points of the game on a short jump shot by junior Lisa Rusche, Bowling Green went on an 18-3 run over the next 8:22. During that time, the Cardinals were unable to connect on a single field goal.
Miller said his team's primary goal was to get out to an early lead early in the game and make Ball State play catch-up.
"We had nine [pre-game goals on the chalkboard], number one was a quick start and good first half," Miller said. "I just didn't think we could beat that Ball State program without a good first half. We came out and we were fired out of a cannon and really got them on their heels."
When Porchia Green gave her team its second field goal, a 3-pointer shot at the 6:22 mark in the first half, it capped off a 7-0 run that cut Bowling Green's lead to six points at 18-12. However, Ball State could never get to within five points the rest of the game and the Cardinals trailed 31-18 at the half.
The Cardinals got within 13 points three times in the second 20 minutes, the last time being at 7:24 with 58-45 remaining in regulation. However, each time Bowling Green went on a run and Ball State never get within the 13-point margin.
Roller said the Falcons hot shooting made it difficult to attempt any sort of comeback.
"When you are trying to fight back it is frustrating," Roller said. "The team, I felt, played with a lot of heart in the second half but when you are playing a team that is shooting 60 percent and has been in this spot before. We just couldn't get over the hump."
Like the first matchup of the year, Kelsey Corbin and Porchia Green led the Cardinals, this time with 15 points apiece. However, Ball State was unable to get anything going in the low post.
In the first game of the year, Ball State's starting forwards Rusche and Julie DeMuth was held to 11 points and 10 rebounds. Saturday, the duo combined for a mere 15 points and 11 rebounds.
DeMuth seven points and six rebounds individually, by far her worst performance of the tournament. The junior struggled with foul trouble in the first half and picked up her third foul with 4:41 to play in the opening 20 minutes.
Miller said it was necessary for DeMuth to have a sub-par game in order for his team to get out to the quick lead.
"I think, frankly, she got a little bit of the blame when they didn't beat us in the regular season," Miller said. "She has not played well against us and we thought that if we could get them to struggle early it might be a little bit mental for her because there was pressure on her to play better against us."
Bowling Green outscored Ball State 34-18 in the paint. Falcons' senior Ali Mann led the Falcons with 20 points and also defended DeMuth on the defensive end.
Though DeMuth's track record against the Falcons is less than impressive, she said it had nothing to do with what Bowling Green was doing defensively.
"They are physical, but every other team is physical as well," DeMuth said.
High hopes carried the Cardinals into the game. After the loss, Roller said her team was a frustrated group after Saturday's Championship.
"We are disappointed in the outcome of the game tonight," Roller said. "We really felt like we had an opportunity to do something special. We came into this game with high expectations and nobody in [our] locker room is happy with the results."
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