2008 Woodie Awards
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Rusche scores 11, team takes Wright State
Freshmen lead bench to help Cards get win in season's 2nd game
Bob Culp
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Entering Monday's women's basketball game at Wright State University, the depth and experience level of Ball State University's bench, which includes three freshman, may have been viewed as the Cardinals' biggest weakness.
In the season opener against the University of Louisville, Ball State's bench had no points in 19 combined minutes of play. In Monday's game, however, true freshmen Emily Maggert and Shannon Klei, along with redshirt freshman Kyleigh Jones, played early and provided key performances toward the Ball State 61-52 victory.
"[Monday] was a time for the freshmen to gain experience," coach Tracy Roller said. "The starters were mentally and physically tired, so I went to the bench early and they responded."
After being down 19-9 five minutes into the first half, Roller pulled starters Porchia Green and Julie for Klei and Maggert, a combination that helped the team take the lead shortly before halftime.
"It wasn't a game where we were up 30," Roller said. "We were down and in desperate need, and we needed players to make an impact. Kyleigh Jones came in to run our team and she did a great job. Shannon came in and hit a couple big 3-pointers, and Emily is an excellent player that developed confidence tonight. Emily and the other freshmen played well, and that was the difference maker."
Maggert, who led the bench in scoring, came into the game after playing 10 minutes against Louisville in the season opener. The freshman finished with 10 points, six rebounds and a steal in 23 minutes of play.
The rest of Ball State's bench combined for 33 minutes and contributed nine points to the Cardinals' effort. Klei finished second in scoring off the bench with six points on two 3-pointers to cap off Ball State drives in the first half.
Junior Kiley Jarrett said she was impressed with the freshman performances off the bench, and said her freshmen teammates are coming off the bench and working well with the starting five.
"The freshmen are working on knowing their role," Jarrett said. "When they come in they give it their all and really play hard for us."
Jarrett said the opportunity for the freshmen to contribute to Ball State's first win of the season was important to the confidence of the entire team.
"It was a real confidence booster coming out of Louisville and going into [Wright State] and [the] next [game against] Indiana," Jarrett said. "This win is what the team needed to get picked up."
In the season opener against the University of Louisville, Ball State's bench had no points in 19 combined minutes of play. In Monday's game, however, true freshmen Emily Maggert and Shannon Klei, along with redshirt freshman Kyleigh Jones, played early and provided key performances toward the Ball State 61-52 victory.
"[Monday] was a time for the freshmen to gain experience," coach Tracy Roller said. "The starters were mentally and physically tired, so I went to the bench early and they responded."
After being down 19-9 five minutes into the first half, Roller pulled starters Porchia Green and Julie for Klei and Maggert, a combination that helped the team take the lead shortly before halftime.
"It wasn't a game where we were up 30," Roller said. "We were down and in desperate need, and we needed players to make an impact. Kyleigh Jones came in to run our team and she did a great job. Shannon came in and hit a couple big 3-pointers, and Emily is an excellent player that developed confidence tonight. Emily and the other freshmen played well, and that was the difference maker."
Maggert, who led the bench in scoring, came into the game after playing 10 minutes against Louisville in the season opener. The freshman finished with 10 points, six rebounds and a steal in 23 minutes of play.
The rest of Ball State's bench combined for 33 minutes and contributed nine points to the Cardinals' effort. Klei finished second in scoring off the bench with six points on two 3-pointers to cap off Ball State drives in the first half.
Junior Kiley Jarrett said she was impressed with the freshman performances off the bench, and said her freshmen teammates are coming off the bench and working well with the starting five.
"The freshmen are working on knowing their role," Jarrett said. "When they come in they give it their all and really play hard for us."
Jarrett said the opportunity for the freshmen to contribute to Ball State's first win of the season was important to the confidence of the entire team.
"It was a real confidence booster coming out of Louisville and going into [Wright State] and [the] next [game against] Indiana," Jarrett said. "This win is what the team needed to get picked up."
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