By: Charlie Desadier
Ball State Sports Link
Spirits are high after the Ball State women’s basketball team notched an overtime victory against Milwaukee (84-75) in the season opener.
The Cardinals opened the season with its annual Field Trip Day and it was one for the books. Not only did the Cardinals get the dub, but coach Brady Sallee earned his 300th career victory at the helm of this women’s basketball team.
All 11 Cardinals that played against the Panthers either scored or had a rebound. The starters combined for 58 of Ball States 84 points, with the bench pulling their weight with 26 points and 16 rebounds.
Former Indiana All-Star and freshman Ally Becki led the pack with a 17-point performance. Agustsdotti followed suit with 14 points while redshirt junior Anna Clephane finished the day with 12.
It was a back and forth game between the Cardinals and panthers through the 40 minutes of regulation. With seconds trickling down in the fourth and the Cardinals down by two, Clephane tied the score 72-72 when it mattered the most kicking the contest into overtime.
“You have to focus on what is in front of you,” Clephane said. “You have to focus on the play of what is in front of you and your duty and what you can control.”
Ball State entered the extra period with a chip on their shoulders with back-to-back points from 6’2 freshman Marie Kiefer who finished with nine points, two boards, two blocks, and two steals.
After the successful game one win it looks as if this Cardinals team meshes well together and has prioritized the team’s chemistry especially after losing a few key players going into this season.
“It’s a really different dynamic this year,” Clephane said. “Everyone can do everything. We don’t have positions, and we have a whole new look. I think it only makes our team better — they’re great players and great people. How close we all are and how we all want to see each other succeed is a big factor.”
The Cardinals are bringing it back home for game two today at Worthen where they will welcome Purdue Fort Wayne for the first time since the 2012-13 season. Tonight’s contest will be the seventh time that these two teams met with the Cardinals standing strong at 6-0 against the Mastodons.
The last time the Cardinals stepped on the Mastodons territory they left with a 83-52 victory. Ball State will look to keep their momentum going tonight beginning at 6:30.
