OXFORD — The Miami University women’s basketball team quickly became acquainted with the Mid-American Conference’s projected winner.
The Ball State Cardinals were first on the RedHawks’ league slate.
“I think Ball State’s really good, and they showed why they were preseason No. 1 to win it,” Miami second-year coach Glenn Box said. “I also think that we’re good enough to win it. So, I think that right now, they have championship caliber pedigree.”
The RedHawks erased a 13-point deficit to pull within two before going scoreless in the final 3:30 and suffering a 68-55 loss to the Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon at Millett Hall.
Ball State (9-4, 1-0 MAC) has won the last eight meetings against Miami (7-4, 0-1 MAC).
“They made most of the big plays,” Box said. “They kept balls alive. They had 50-50 balls — just the extra things were the difference.
“Obviously, we speak about turnovers and such, but it was a situation where I think they’re championship pedigree came about, and we didn’t finish the game the way we were capable of finishing it.”
Enjulina Gonzalez scored a team-high 15 points for Miami, which committed 24 turnovers that turned into 31 Ball State points.
“It’s been a problem all year,” Box said of Miami’s turnover woes.
Box said the loss of guard Tamar Singer — who went out midway through the contest with an ankle injury — didn’t help.
“I could have played her,” Box said. “I elected not to play her. We just looked different obviously without her — especially when she’s playing well. Defensively, I think she’s the best defensive player in our league. You lose that, you lose a lot.
“We lost a shooter a couple times that we weren’t supposed to lose,” Box added. “We failed to play the scouting report the way that we were capable of playing a couple times. That’s part of the championship pedigree that we’ve got to learn between now and the tournament.
“We talk about little things all the time as far as doing the little things that we have to do to win games. … I feel like Ball State’s a heck of a team, but I just feel like our ceiling is higher.”
Miami led 7-0, and Ball State made its way back to take the lead 13-10 on an Elise Stuck 3-pointer at the 1:22 mark in the first quarter. Ball State owned its largest lead at 26-13 with 5:55 remaining in the second.
Ally Becki scored a game-high 22 points for the Cardinals, and she did most of her work in the second half.
The RedHawks cut it to within 55-53 on a Katey Richason layup with 5:00 left to play, but Miami was held without a bucket for the last 3:30 as Ball State pulled away.
“I think that we’re going to win our league,” Box said. “I think we’re going to win our tournament. I put it out there like that, and it’s because that’s my expectation. That’s my standard. I feel like we’re supposed to.
“My kids, they don’t need to be OK with barely losing to Ball State,” Box added. “They should have beat Ball State. Give Ball State all the credit in the world, but we didn’t do the things that we needed to do to win.
“My expectation is we’re going to win, and I don’t care what anybody thinks or says, we’re going to win. And give them all the credit in the world. I know what they’ve got, who they are, I get all that. I think neutral court come March, I think we’re going to win it.”
The series
Under 13th-year head coach Brady Sallee, the Cardinals are 14-1 against the RedHawks dating back to Sallee’s first season in 2012-13. The last time Ball State lost to Miami was on Jan. 19, 2019 in Oxford by a score of 60-57.
The last time Ball State opened Mid-American Conference play against Miami was on Jan. 2, 2000 in Oxford, Ohio.
“Ball State’s the best team in our league for a reason. They beat us,” Box said. “So, they’re the best as far as I’m concerned. They’re the best team. But when I watch them, my eyes watch, we do this, we do that, I just feel like we’re more than capable.”
Grooving Gonzalez
Over the past five games, Gonzalez has averaged 23.0 points and 4.8 rebounds a game.
She scored at least 18 points in each of the past five contests heading into Wednesday’s game, including 27 in a win at Dayton and 29 at FIU.
Up next
Miami travels to Western Michigan on Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. tip.
