By: Griffin Leonard
MUNCIE, Ind. — – The Ball State Cardinals emerged victorious Wednesday night after a clash with the Central Michigan Chippewas, resulting in a 78-54 win. It’s the 17th win in the last 18 games for Sallee’s group, who haven’t lost at home since November 25th against nationally ranked Notre Dame.
The result went into the win column, but specifically, the first half was a needed improvement over the last time these two teams met, in Mount Pleasant, where the Cardinals only led by four at the halftime break. Wednesday, however, they led by 25.
“We were much better in our press against them,” Coach Brady Sallee said. “We got ourselves in some bad matchups [last matchup] because, you know, we didn’t press great. … Tonight, I thought we were way more locked in with what we had to do, we knew what they were going to try to do, which helped.”
Junior Alex Richard led the way offensively for the Cardinals, knocking down nine of her last ten shots to cap off a career-high 22 points for the Avon, Indiana native.
“Yeah, probably [it’s been the best basketball I’ve been playing].” remarked Richard. “Just ducking in hard, catching the defender lacking, … [that] was how I got it going.”
Richard excelled over the course of the game, finishing through contact in the lane and hitting jump shots over Chippewa defenders. The Avon product featured in nearly every offensive category but one – three-point shots – where she has yet to convert in her career. When asked about that, she jokingly replied,
“I know my role. I’m just gonna leave it at that.” Richard laughed. “I know my role.”
The schedule heats up beginning Saturday with a trip to the University of Toledo, who the Cardinals currently share the Mid-American Conference lead with. The matchup comes after Ball State defeated Toledo last month, their first home victory over the Rockets since 2021.
“It’s always fun to go to Toledo, they’ve got a good crowd going. It’s electric there,” junior Ally Becki said. “They’re going to bring it and we’re going to bring it.”
Time will tell if there will be a new leader in the conference standings after the conclusion of Saturday’s games, but for these two teams, it just means more.
After the trip to Toledo, the Cardinals return home Wednesday the 28th to host the Akron Zips in the penultimate home game of the 2023-24 regular season.
