by The Ball State Cardinals went to Naples, Florida to face the Pittsburgh Panthers in their first game of the Florida Gulf Classic. The Cards took their first game of the weekend with a comfortable win that never seemed to be in doubt. They took down Pitt 55-41.
Ball State came into this game with a 5-1 record off a 2-point loss to UIC earlier in the week. On the other side, Pitt came into this game 4-3 after a loss to Lafayette.
The story of the first half was rebounding. Ball State got to work early on the glass. In the first half, the Cardinals had 13 offensive rebounds and 27 total boards. Tessa Towers finished the half with eight of those 27 rebounds for Ball State.
In the end, Ball State pulled down 51 total rebounds compared to Pittsburgh’s 41 boards. Of the Cardinals’ 51 rebounds, they tallied 22 off the offensive glass.
Ball State had a returning starter for this game. Bree Salenbien missed Monday’s game against the UIC Flames where the Cardinals took a loss for their first loss of the year. Salenbien made here return against Pitt, and played a great game.
Ball State coach Brady Sallee talked about Salenbien’s leadership and impact.
“We didn’t know it until she wasn’t in the lineup, how much she leads on the floor for us,” said Sallee. “She’s a calming voice and keeps us orderly. I think our other kids do it, but that’s one of our big roles for her.”
Salenbien finished the Pitt matchup with 17 points, 12 rebounds, four steals, and three assists.
Meanwhile, Tessa Towers put up numbers with another double-double. In her performance against Pitt, she recorded her fifth double-double of the year in just seven games.
Coach Sallee spoke about Towers’ performances up to this point.
“When you’re playing an ACC team, and you have the best post player on the floor, that says everything you need to say,” said Sallee. “It opens up a lot of stuff. When you have a good player like that, you have to keep feeding her.”
Ball State played a solid all-around game against Pitt.
Tessa Towers finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds, Grace Kingery had 12 points and two assists, and Aniss Tagayi recorded eight points with three steals.
Ball State won this game 55-41 over the Panthers in an impressive win over the ACC school.
The Cardinals improve to a 6-1 record after their win against Pitt while Pitt falls even with a 4-4 record. Ball State plays Alabama A&M on Nov. 29 in their last game in the Florida Gulf Classic.
