CLEVELAND - Julie DeMuth, who averages 15.6 points per game, was held to seven, and Ball State University, a team that averages a 45.6 percent shooting mark was held was held to only 34 percent as Bowling Green State University completely shut down Ball State's offense.
"They are physical, but every other team is physical as well," DeMuth said. "I think we didn't knock down our shots."
The Cardinals made only five field goals in the first half and the team, which averages four players in double figures, only had two: Kelsey Corbin and Porchia Green.
"We're really scout heavy," the Falcons Ali Mann said. "We know what they like to do so, [we used] good team defense and knowing their tendencies and making them a little uncomfortable."
The Cardinals' usual potent 3-point offense, the top percentage in the Mid-American Conference, was held to only five of 13 by the Falcons.
"We did not want to give them 3-pointers tonight," Bowling Green coach Curt Miller said. "Our goal was five made or less and we got to that goal. That's a big big part of what they do."
It was a rerun for the Cardinals, who fell to Bowling Green 86-76 earlier in the season. DeMuth was held to eight points and four rebounds and Lisa Rusche, the other Cardinal with an inside presence, was held to three points and six rebounds in their February, had eight points and five rebounds on Saturday.
"We've done a really good job on their post because we know where their strengths are, and we want them to beat us with their weaknesses," Miller said.
Bowling Green's team has six seniors, including starters Mann, Carin Horne, Liz Honegger and Megan Thorburn and bench presence Amber Flynn. Bowling Green has also been to the previous three championship games and won the last two.
"I am sure it helped them out, being used to the sounds of what goes on here," Corbin said. "Being used to the arena, and the fans and just understanding that when you get here you have to play with a toughness and the mentality they played with tonight."
Miller admitted that their past success, including a now 12-2 record in Quicken Loans Arena, helped his team in the match up.
"I can still remember when [assistant coaches] Brandi Poole and Kevin Eckert yawning at four in the morning and me going ballistic going 'how can we be like this it's the MAC championship' tomorrow,'" he said. "I think we're more experienced and better in that quick turnaround than in the past."
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