by Ball State women’s basketball traveled to the state capitol as the Cardinals faced IU Indy in Indianapolis Sunday afternoon.
After a physical game that saw 48 fouls, there were two career highs set for Ball State as the Cardinals topped the Jaguars 81-72.
Here are 3 notes from the game
Inconsistent first half from Ball State
Ball State (2-0) began the game inside The Jungle as its offensive playstyle caught fire. After trailing 5-4 early, the Cardinals went on an 8-0 run to lead 13-5. At the end of the opening quarter, they lead the Jaguars 21-13.
However, IU Indy didn’t give in to the visiting Cardinals. In the second quarter, the Jaguars outscored Ball State 18-13. This came as the Red and White’s offense struggled to get anything going, allowing the Jaguars to capture that momentum.
IU Indy (1-2) ended the third quarter on a 14-3 scoring run, cutting the Cardinals’ lead to just 34-31 at halftime. Ball State ended the opening half 15-for-42 (35.7 percent) from the field and 1-for-15 from deep (6.6 percent).
The Tessa Towers and Brie Salenbien experience
Ahead of the game, the Ball State senior center had a career-high 10 points. But once the Cardinals realized IU Indy had no answer for her, that record was broken in the second quarter as Towers had 14 points in the first half alone. She concluded the game with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds.
In the second half, Salenbien took control for the Cardinals. The former Gonzaga Bulldog came alive in her second game as a Cardinal as she finished the game with a double-double, including 20 points — a career high — and grabbed 12 rebounds in the victory.
Altogether, Towers and Salenbein ended the game 15-for-24 from the field, scoring 40 points and recording 22 rebounds.
A fight to the finish
With 4:48 remaining in the game, Ball State led IU Indy 68-62. In the following minutes, the game’s physicality jumped to a new level as both teams weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.
After IU Indy junior guard Olivia Smith drained a free throw at the 2:22 mark, Ball State’s lead was just 70-66. However, that did not rattle the Cardinals, as Salenbien sank a layup and junior guard Karsyn Norman drained a corner 3-pointer to extend their lead to 75-66.
That shot became the dagger as it was a free-throw clinic to end the contest. Overall, there were 25 fouls called against Ball State and 23 on the Jaguars. Ball State finished the game 28-for-67 (41.8 percent) from the court.
The Cardinals will next play Wednesday, Nov. 12, when Northern Kentucky stops at Worthen Arena. The game will start at 6:30 p.m.
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu, zachcarter039@gmail.com or via X @ZachCarter85.
