CLEVELAND - Bowling Green State University coach Curt Miller said it was ultimately the Ball State University women's basketball team's senior leadership and upperclassman presence that led to the Cardinals' 55-51 win against his Falcons in Sunday's Mid-American Conference Championship game.
It was fourth-year junior forward Danielle Gratton who tied the game at 51 with a 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining and senior guard Porchia Green who scored the game-winning finger roll to give the Cardinals their first-ever MAC Championship and propel them into their first NCAA Tournament.
"Seniors make plays when they're important," Miller said. "Seniors make big plays at this time of the year, and total credit to Ball State to finish that game off."
Green said she and her fellow seniors - guards Kiley Jarrett and Dana Moorman - have worked tirelessly on becoming effective communicators in a game where hectic moments are the norm.
"We communicate on and off the court," a beaming Green said following the championship game. "One thing about us is that we get along great off the court. We go hang out at each other's house, go get ice cream together. We're like a family - we bond well off the court, and I think that it makes a stronger bond on the court."
Associate head coach Lisa McDonald has been with the Ball State program since the 2001-02 season and remembers recruiting the current senior class, "when they were just little high school kids."
"[The seniors have meant] everything to us," McDonald said while clenching the MAC Championship trophy. "To see how they've grown and matured and come so far - not just as players but as people - I'm more proud than I've ever been."
McDonald said what sets this team apart from other successful squads of the past is the vocality of the seniors.
"They put people in the right spots when they do the right things - their leadership is what got us to this point," she said.
Defensive improvement
The Cardinals proved defense really does win championships during their stay in Cleveland.
Ball State allowed almost 70 points per game in the regular season and relied heavily on its offense to win games, which averaged 72.6 points per game before the MAC Tournament.
Sophomore forward Emily Maggert said the coaching staff challenged the players to improve defensively during the past couple of weeks.
"All of the coaches, really, have been on us about improving our defense," Maggert said. "Our offense is fine, and then they always say we've got to keep getting better at defense in this MAC Tournament. We've gotten better every game - it's all been clicking with us defense-wise."
Evidently the team was listening. The Cardinals allowed 52 points per game in the MAC Tournament on the Quicken Loans Arena court, including a first-half effort in the semifinal game against the University at Buffalo in which they allowed 12 points.
To top it off, Green was named the 2008-09 MAC Defensive Player of the Year last week.
"The biggest thing is this team's will, I mean their sheer will - and I think it was really evident at times today particularly defensively - that same will has been something that's been in process all year long," coach Kelly Packard said. "They have now matured and that mental toughness will carry over, and I expect it to grow and I think such pride now in not only making history at Ball State, but now representing Ball State very well in the NCAA Tournament."
TOURNEY SELECTION SHOWBall State viewing party
TIME: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
VENUE:Damon's Grill3451 N. Nebo Road
EVENT: The women's basketball team will be in attendance to see where it will be seeded in the NCAA Tournament.
COST: Free admission
The women's NCAA Tournament selection show will be on ESPN from 7-8 p.m.
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