It was a defensive smorgasbord for the Ball State women's basketball team this Saturday. During the Bulls showdown against their Mid-American Conference rivals, Buffalo managed to turn the ball over 23 times, eight of which coming from the first four possessions of each half.
Head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald recognized the team's lack of ball security in its 59-55 loss.
"It's the same story game after game after game" Hill-MacDonald said. "It's not getting any better. It has to get better."
However, turnovers were not the only definitive statistic for the game. Defensive rebounding also hurt the Bulls (6-15, 1-8 MAC), especially during the last five minutes of the game. Buffalo found themselves down five points with only a short amount of time remaining in the game. Despite the lead, this margin seemed to fluster the Ball State shooters, causing them to attempt ill-advised three-pointers, which could have been capitalized on by the Bulls, if it wasn't for their poor work on the defensive glass.
"For us to be successful, our turnovers have to get better, our defensive rebounding has to get better," Hill-McDonald said. "Our ability to step to the foul line and make foul shots has to get better and making lay-ups. That's the easiest shot in the game. It has to get better. If we could have been a little bit better in each of those areas today, we probably could have won because Ball State was off their game. We had an opportunity and we let it get away because we didn't do what we needed to do."
Despite the apparent lack of team rebounding, junior forward Heather Turner used the game to further solidify her star status here at Buffalo. Turner was able to generate seven points, the second most on the team behind sophomore guard Jamie Schiebner who had 10, she also tallied a team-high 12 total rebounds. Turner accrued the second most playing time on the team with 37 minutes, second only to junior guard Stephanie Bennett.
A bright spot for the Bulls during their disappointing loss was the extreme hustle and fire shown by freshman guard Ashley Zuber. Although Zuber only shot 1-2 while recording only one assist, she provided a spark off the bench for the Bulls.
"Zuber has been making that transition and earning her playing time in practice, she's a little bulldog," Hill-MacDonald said. "She plays hard and she challenges her teammates and she does everything you ask her to do and she gets in the gym and she does extra. She has a passion for this game. She has a passion for being good and for winning."
Zuber also provides the Bulls with the ability to be more flexible in the lineup.
"I like her on the floor because she has a determination and a good focus that the other players need to see when she's in there," Hill-MacDonald said. "(Zuber) also enables us to move Steph Bennett to the wing where she can be more productive as a shooter. It gives us a little bit more flexibility as a team with her in the game and she's given us quality minutes."
Ball State had four players score in double digits. Guard Kelsey Corbin led the team with 14 points in the game. Guard Portia Green recorded a double-double for the Cardinals with 12 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. She also led the team in minutes played with 35.
Buffalo will be forced to make the necessary adjustments for their Feb. 7 tangle with the Western Michigan Broncos at Alumni Arena. The game tips off at 7 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
