by Ball State women’s basketball hosted the Northern Kentucky Norse Wednesday Nov. 12. Where they would put a route on the Norse. Ball State got off to a fast start and didn’t look back.
Worthen Arena hosted the Ball State women’s basketball team in their home opener against NKU, and Ball State did not disappoint.
The Cardinals took this game handily with a final score of 95-64 over Northern Kentucky.
Hot streak showing off a fast start
Ball State, in the first quarter, was knotted up with NKU at 10 when Ball State went on a 18-0 run before Northern Kentucky Head Coach Jeff Hans called a timeout to calm down his side.
The Cardinals a finished the first quarter with a 15-point lead sitting at 28-13. Leading the way was Ball State center Tessa Towers with eight first-quarter points and two boards.
Up to the end of the first quarter, Ball State shot 4/8 from three-point range and 11/20 in total field goals. Some teams will get lucky and shoot at that high of a clip, but the Cards found plenty of open looks that came to Ball State’s benefit.
Ball State would stay hot into the second quarter. NKU couldn’t find any answers for Ball State’s scoring. Not only was Ball State leading 42-13 with four minutes to play in the first half, but the Cardinals’ defense was also putting on a clinic up to that point by forcing 13 NKU turnovers.
The Cardinals went into the second half with a 51-23 lead over NKU.
Relentless defense
Ball State’s defense was locking down NKU’s shooting throughout this one. NKU was held scoreless for 18 straight Ball State points at one point in the game.
The first half was full of offensive struggles for the Norse. Throughout the entire first half, NKU shot at a 28% clip due to Ball State forcing NKU to take low percentage shots with heavy contests.
NKU went the entire first half making just two three-point baskets out of 12 attempts.
Ball State would remain dominant throughout the entirety of this game. NKU couldn’t find rhythm against the Cardinals. The Norse never led this game. Ball State allowed NKU to be tied at 10 back in the first quarter with five minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Ball State depth efficiency
Ball State coach Brady Sallee put emphasis on using plenty of his roster in this victory. Sallee had 12 players get valuable minutes in their win against NKU.
Ball State really went into using their bench. Their big lead was, of course, from their great shooting and defense. Although, a lot of the contribution of those factors came off the bench.
BSU made sure to make it known that they have more talent on the bench. In the first half, bench players for the Cardinals scored 23 points compared to NKU’s five points off the bench.
One of the main bench scorers for Ball State was Ball State freshman from Italy Giorgia Gorini. Gorini eight points in the first half against the Norse. Of Gorini’s eight points, six of those eight points were from around the arch.
The Norse put in the effort to make it a more competitive second half, but they never found their rhythm to bring the game back within striking distance in Worthen Arena. Ball State rolled through this game to beat NKU by 31 for a 95-64 final score.
Ball State looks forward to traveling to Memphis on Saturday, Nov. 15 after improving to 3-0 for the season after this win against NKU.
