After losing two seniors off last year's bench, Ball State University has an inexperienced group of reserves that will be maturing as the 2007-08 season progresses.
Ball State played its starting five for the majority of Saturday's game against the University of Louisville. Holding a 67-62 lead with less than six minutes remaining in regulation, Louisville scored the final 14 points of Saturday's game. The run led the No. 21-ranked Cardinals to a 81-62 victory.
"A lot of it was tired legs," Ball State coach Tracy Roller said of her team's play during the final stretch. "... In college it's tough to play 40 minutes but against a top 25 team it's definitely tough to play 40 minutes."
Freshmen Shannon Klei and Emily Maggert were the two players to see action off Ball State's bench. The duo combined for 19 minutes. Starters Audrey McDonald and Kiley Jarrett both played all 40 minutes for Ball State.
Playing the entire game, Jarret had six points, five assists and a steal against Louisville, and McDonald finished five of 10 from behind the 3-point line for 19 points.
Junior Porchia Green played 31 minutes against Louisville - the fewest minutes out Ball State's starting five - and was guarding the reigning Big East Player of the Year, Angel McCoughtry, most of the time she was on the court.
Though Roller said the starters were fatigued at the end of the game, McDonald said it wasn't an excuse for Louisville's final run.
"It's tough when they are bringing in fresh new legs and we've been out there the whole time," McDonald said. "But during the game you don't feel it."
Every Ball State point was scored by one of its five starters. Klei had one assist and one steal in her nine minutes of play, while Emily Maggert grabbed three rebounds in her 10 minutes.
Even after starting the season against an aggressive opponent, Roller said, she sees potential in the two freshmen to provide support for the heavier played starters.
"I had two freshmen coming off of the bench, and I thought they did well," Roller said. "You just got to get some scoring out of them too, but you just have too develop that. I mean it's game one and we have to realize that, and build on that."
Louisville's bench consisted of five players, which combined for nine points, seven rebounds and the ability rotate six Louisville players with two fouls out of the game in the first half.
Demuth said she sees positive results with her freshman teammates off of the bench.
"We are still waiting from them to develop, but they're doing a good job," Demuth said. "Looking at the stat sheet you wouldn't really see that much, but they're coming along."
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