[Music] it is semi-final Friday downtown Cleveland rocket mortgage Fieldhouse the mid of American Conference women's basketball tournament the two3 matchup wraps up the semifinals Ball State and Kent State golden flashes arriving at Rocket mortgage Fieldhouse trying to advance to the championship game The Ball State Cardinals got other ideas they have been out standing in Mid-American Conference Play here's how the bracket has laid out we had an upset as the four seed Buffalo went overtime to ta
ke out the top seed Toledo the winner of this game gets the Bulls tomorrow in the championship game with a spot in the NCAA tournament on the line welcome inside rocket mortgage Fieldhouse along with my partner kayy Griffin I'm day bacon kayy you look at these two teams pretty evenly matched both of them have outstanding Talent when you talk about the Ball State Cardinals defensive player of the year Nyla Hampton you talk about Ken State how about Katie schumate does a little bit of everything K
atie shid just embodies what this Ken State team is all about she's the first four-time all Max selection in Ken State history an all ma first team and all ma defensive team selection this season her motor just doesn't stop she plays hard every single possession she aages 15 points and over seven rebounds the game she pitched for 16 and nine in their last meeting with Ball State Ken State goes as Katie shumate leads now on the other side Nyla Hampton is a back-to-back defensive player of the yea
r last year with Bowling Green now with Ball State coach described her as a perfect compliment to this team she's an extension of himself on the floor that's how much trust he has in her she was also an allac second team selection this season she's all about winning and can be disruptive on both ends of the floor fromb number zero Ali let's take a look at the five players that will start on the court for the Kent State golden flashes di gray sophomore point guard important to get the offense rol
ling Jenna batch third Team all Ma and Bridget dun a double double in the quarterfinal win over Northern Illinois yesterday the five for the Ball State Cardinals the second seed Ali Becky First Team all M um Bishop third Team all ma Hampton second Team all ma defensive player of the year they are loaded and their post players Richard and kefir get it done both defensively as well as on the low block yeah there's no question Ball State Embraces that defensive identity and again it starts with Nyl
a hampon the defensive player of the year back-to-back Seasons now Ball State has been one of the best teams in this conference Kent State is neck and neck right behind them and Todd starky doing a great job at the help you see his eighth year with the uh in charge of the golden slashes they are the third seed this season uh teams met twice uh Ball State winning both of them 5746 January 31st in m four-point game just a couple of weeks ago in Kent so teams pretty evenly matched in both of those
games a good look at the flashes they were pushed and did a nice job of closing out uh Northern Illinois in that quarterfinal matchup yeah when I talk to both coaches yesterday they told me that the first two meetings between these two teams looked completely different the first one was a rock fight neither one could score the second game at Ken state it was all about the offense both teams were hitting their offensive stride so what are we in for here today Dave we'll just have to see you see B
rady SEL 12th year as the top Cardinal at Ball State trying to get to the NCAA tournament for the first time um and two wins get you there at this point in the season tap is controlled by gray for Kent State so the flashes will go into their offensive set that's Morris With It shoe mate comes out to get the pass batch done hit a couple of Threes in the quarterfinal Victory shoemate gets down low puts it up all over the rim rebound grab Michaela Morris puts it Ina moris that's the type of start t
he K St wants Katy shate again aggressive to the rim offensive rebounding certainly a key for Ken State here today they had 15 in the first meeting looking to make the most of those opportunities today Ball State offense was really effective a lot of cutting a lot of motion a lot of sharing the basketball very much a team oriented style of play kef for little crossover puts it up good look won't go down rebound grabbed by Bridget done in transition shate will give it up to [Music] [Applause] [Mu
sic] gray shate has it Stripped Away Hampton defensive player of the year with a steal early Becky open look for three knocks it down Ali Becky Ali Becky Ali Becky one of the best players in this conference she turned 21 yesterday there was a little celebration at the hotel she's an all ma first team selection coach says she can average 25 if she wanted but she's all about the team shoemate throws it up rebound grabbed by kefir Becky also part of that Ma all defensive team and it goes off Richar
d's hands it will be Kent State's [Applause] basketball take us to the keys to this game Kaye Griffin let's start with Kent State taking care of possessions coach said hey this this is March you got to make shots you got to get stops you need to make the most of them and convert on Second Chance opportunities like I said they had 15 offensive rebounds in the last meeting with Ball State only converted for 17 points they want more and for Ball State transition defense Ken State plays the fastest
Pace in the ma coach wants them to force them into half course sets and points in the paint ball state is undefeated this season when they win the paint Point battle they got to take care of business inside today good defense by kefir Alters the shot Ball State comes away with the ball there's Hampton kefir on the [Applause] Baseline 12 on the shot clock Becky directing traffic little pick and roll Richard nice move under gets the bucket lot of movement in the hatch cour that's a good start for
Bow State Alex Richard you want to get her into her group she had a big quarterfinal performance she has been such an asset to this team since transferring from Butler coach said she's really found her confidence as of late three-pointer knock down Bridget Dunn she had a big quarterfinal performance as well Bridget Dunn has such range standing at 63 she shoots at about 34% from three and she's not afraid to launch it either tied at five just underway and on the Baseline a good look by Becky but
she can't get it to go down [Applause] [Music] gray Up and Under batch can't get it to go good defense by Bishoff kind of forced her underneath the basket Hampton will kick it out kefir open for three can't hit it rebound grab Richard and this one's corraled by Morris for Kent [Applause] State shoe gets to the bucket for the easy two good to see Katie shoate getting going early here she had keer all tied up spun around there too with an easy finish from the left side fish off three back of the i
ron rebound gray flashes up Court quickly gray little hesitation under won't go Morris the rebound reverse off the backboard gray another offensive rebound Diana gray open three can't get it to go rebound shoate they continue to crash the offensive glass done that three won't go and this one is gathered by kefir certainly a strength of C start these team is crashing the offensive bance again he just wants to make sure his team is making the most of those opportunities three-pointer by Ali Becky
short Annie Rous who is the mid- American Conference sixth Player of the Year checks in and coming in part of the ma all freshman team Jana Tyler n played down the stretch of the regular season and in the quarters she's a force on the Block we just saw the Freshman of the year in Buffalo and Kiron Lewis and on the other side Jana Tyler she plays about half the minutes of every other player on the all freshman team if she was playing those minutes you could argue that she'd be in the conversation
for freshman of here as well good block by kefir little pick and roll Tyler has it blocked it comes to Becky kicks it out three ball Bishoff rims out Dunn gathers the rebound patch trying to get it to Tyler Rous forces her away from the basket Tyler though muscles it in little too far under not a great angle and the rebound comes off the Ball [Music] State Becky wanted to get it into Rous couldn't do so still 17 on the shot clock plenty of time and Hampton will reset things Nyla Hampton little
12-footer from the Baseline rims out done a good job of boxing out and will draw the foul s and five Kent State leading Ball State 417 to go in this first quarter Katie shemake to the hoop second semifinal game and K both teams kind of pushing the temple a little bit three of 13 from the field for Kent State two of 11 for Ball State neither team really in a in a rhythm offensively just yet yeah both still searching for that offensive rhythm again trying to dictate the pace themselves see which t
eam can find that balance first the offensive glass has been huge for both of these teams Ken state had three offensive rebounds on one possession so certainly capitalizing on those opportunities but looking to make some more offensive conversion on this side of the floor down to one on the shot clock and the defense creates the turnover Becky comes away with [Applause] it anabat has checked in for Ball State and Elena Meyer has checked in for Kent [Applause] State down to seven on the shot cloc
k for the Cardinals Hampton attacks good defense and it is gathered by Tyler here comes [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] gray that's Meyer gives it back up to shate shate attacking over Hampton gets the rebound takes it away from Becky shoate BS it in I'm unsure how she even did that but Katie schumate again that motor is nonstop following her own Miss somehow securing the rebound and finishing with those two second chance points Katie schum is certainly going to look to lead thi
s Ken State team here today as she always [Applause] does down to 10 on the shot clock so PA state not getting into their offense as quickly as they probably want to in the half court Becky three-pointer Off the Mark again shot clock was running out and we will get another substitution as Bridget Dunn will check back in this time for Dianna gray and also checking in Hannah mule for Ball State 219 remaining first quarter Kent State the three seed with a four-point lead they have the basketball Ty
ler gets a [Music] touch they get it into Tyler good help defense they swing it quickly three-pointer knock down the open three is drained by jenat 12 five the lead Jenna batch has come up so big for Kent State this season she came in averaging just over three points a season ago but coach sty telling me she learned so much from Hannah young CLA Kelly those seniors last season they set her up for Success an all ma third team selection this season she's averaging nearly 14 points per game Bishop
rims out Tyler gathers the rebound one shot and done for the Cardinals on the offensive end and some miscommunication Tyler able to gather and you saw sh kind of let's settle down that's that senior leadership Katy Shoe mes understanding the moment here and say hey we have we have to take care of these possessions these are all so important down to eight on the shot clock batch good look at it can't get it to go it's going to be off rout out of bounds it will be K State basketball Ella Pugo Nyla
Hampton check back in for Ball State AA Morris will check back in for Kent State shate to trigger she gets it back inside of a minute in this first quarter pulls up good look rolls in Katie schum six in the game and the lead has grown to nine for the flashes that's that Shooter's touch there for Katie shoate comes off the dribble for the quick pull up has the friendly bounce there and Katie shate for two mule attacking the glass jump ball oh offensive foul call say it cleared out with the arm w
as the call on mule take another look here Hannah mule draws two Defenders here it was Michaela Morris stepping in in front of her and just sacrificing her body a big call there in favor of Ken State about a 5 Second differential between the shot clock and the first quarter clock gray into the four qu trying to build on a ninepoint Kent State lead batch trying to get it into Morris good defense turnover hross heading up Court 10 in the quarter hross little crossover attack in the glass can't get
it to go rebound sh [Applause] gray and the first quarter comes to an end and it is is the three seed Kent State with a 9-point lead 14 to5 on the two seed Ball State at the end of the first quarter between these two teams and again they looked completely different both of these teams in a defensive battle in that first meeting at B state but just a about a week and a half ago these two teams met at Kent State it came down to the wire a lot more scoring in that one both of these coaches well aw
are that today it was going to be a battle and we've certainly seen that Ken state is coming out red hot and Ball State just shooting two of 15 from the floor that has certainly been the difference five points in the first quarter Dave I I don't think anyone was expecting that no and they're one of their last 13 so they made a couple early and U like we said it's 7 and 1/2 minutes that they've gone scoreless Hampton ends the drought with the three ball Nyla Hampton known for her defense puts thr
ee on the board they whistle a traveling traveling violation on di gray so the turnover gives it right back to the Cardinals just like that that's exactly the disruptiveness of Nyla Hampton on both ends of the floor drills a big three and just some pressure on Gray forcing the turnover again a big reason why she's defensive player of the year but can also make you pay on the offensive end working it inside now they have to kick it back out good defense on the interior by D bishof Ali Becky in th
e corner down to five on the shot CL Bishoff good take inside and good defense recovery by uh bch gets the the block he got beat but came from behind and blocked it a huge defensive stop there from 10 State looked like Bishop had a wide open driving lane re ball knock down by dun mentioned done in the uh semis double double 14 points 15 rebounds and she knocked down a couple of Threes like that that one a big one pushes it back to nine her length and her versatility offensively is one of her big
gest strengths it's not often that you see a 6-3 player being able to pull it out from the three-point line and there she is affecting the on the defensive end grabbing that big rebound Bridget dun such an asset to coach Stark team here uh she has the ability to really get going from Beyond the three-point line was a good look for Alec Richards just couldn't knock it down it's kind of been the story of a good part of this first half for the Cardinals inside Morris good defense by Richard and her
e comes Ali [Applause] Becky back to that pattern half cour offense lead is nine for p State the three seat three-pointer Keir hits the three ball lead down to six again talking about offensive versatility Marie kefir she stands at 62 as well she can spread the floor knocking down a big three when her team needs it there's the block inside Alec Richard these bigs are active and that's what we we come to expect from Ball State Alex Richard with a huge defensive stop there the block over a much sm
aller Dianna gray and like any good Defender she's letting her know don't come in here yeah talking a little Trash there certainly warning her what will happen if she tries that again good hands by Hampton shate gathers Tyler strong on the low block puts it in just a freshman she will be a handful for this conference moving forward she already is she can get even better and she certainly doesn't play like a freshman she's coming off a concussion protocol too the quarterfinals was her first game
back and she played with such poison that game and again a great start for Tyler here [Applause] today again back to the patient offensive sets for the Cardinals down to six on the shot clock now Bey Richard can't hit the little 16-footer rebound gathered here comes the splashes in transition good look inside shoate up under an in I didn't know she had enough room but ktie shoemate wasn't worried about it Dave that positioning did not look like it was going to end well Katie shoate almost direct
ly under the basket somehow she finagles her way around for the Up and Under good hands but Hampton gets the loose ball and then it is knocked down by keeper Mar Keir just in a great spot on the floor here for a little dish and nla Hampton with the steel up of di gray Hampton draws the foul [Applause] Onre free throws coming definitely a little frustration there from Diana gray Nyla Hampton just as gray turns around swats it away unable to convert well the layup but now an opportunity for two at
the free throw line [Music] so already uh a couple of steals for Nyla Hampton three points three assists two steals she's headed to the line it's one of the reasons Brady s loves uh she's all she affects all facets of the game and what an addition she has been I asked him how this even came to be because it's not often you see players transfer in conference and he said I first went to my girl and I said hey would you be comfortable with her being on this team if I start recruiting her and he sa
id automatically everyone said she'd be a perfect fit she has no ego she's all about doing what it takes to win so they went all out and she had a lot of high major opportunities including going to Michigan State but she felt like Ball State was the perfect fit for her Tyler on the low block Works her way in against Rouch Banks it in freshman not rushed know she had plenty of time and gets another bucket Jana Tyler has so much Poise she's been learning from Michaela Morris all season long and sh
e's been a tremendous backup for her well you see the battle going on between her and rash on the low block and she can hold her ground yeah she certainly can that's going to only get that much better as she gets a little bit older as [Applause] well down to four on the shot clock Becky drains the three it was contested it didn't matter that's what Ali Becky does she has the range she has the composure The Defenders were all up in her face and it didn't matter foul whistled against Becky on the
drive we're going to step aside take a quick timeout Kent State with a six-point lead against Ball State is Ali Becky hits the three ball to cut it to six Fieldhouse 20 3 17 the third seed K State gold flashes leading the number two seed by six just under 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter so mid- American Conference tournament history three times the state golden flashes uh have been champions the last one back in 2002 Todd starky in his eighth year in charge of the flashes of course for
a long time the flashes coached by the legendary Bob Lindsay [Music] [Applause] [Music] down to 10 on the shot [Applause] clock good ball movement gray wide open three knocks it down Diana gray lead back to nine a huge shot there from Diana gray she has had to shoulder a much larger load with Karan Hower going out for the season with injury she has stepped up in a big way a little frustration early nla Hampton causing some pressure on her but a big response there back to the half court set for
the Cardinals and that time Tyler will get called for the foul good battle going on on the low block between her and Rous yeah no question a lot of physicality there Jana Tyler holding her own though letting her know hey you're not going to push me around and Morris will come back [Music] in [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Becky down to 10 three-pointer Bishop puts it in real nice release first three of the game for Bishoff that's her range she's shooting over 39% from the three-point line want to
get Bishop going especially if they get it from three patch attacks side of the rim rebound [Applause] Becky trying to cut into the Sixpoint Kent State lead bishof open for three rims out that time rebound gathered by dun G done add a double double in the quarters she's on her way to do it again here in the semis seven rebounds [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] already shoe mate to three won't go loose ball gathered by Becky Ali Becky into the four Court nice cross over bounce pass Rous and
R finished with the left she'll go to the line for the conventional three-point play and beautiful play there it all started with Ali Becky she grabs the rebound pushes it out in transition finds Annie Rous inside strong finish for two an opportunity for three at the free throw line Ali Becky is loving it and you see the sixth Player of the Year moved it to the off hand which is her left hand misses the free throw but able to finish through the contact to get the bucket lead down to four for Ke
nt State they have the basketball Gray round the [Applause] pick three-pointer knock down guess who Bridget done Bridget done she's three for four from the three-point line here today again that's her range and B state is giving her those opportunities so she's going to keep shooting them 9.7 rebounds for dun 222 to go in the half gray hits the pass couldn't control it so it will still be Ball State basketball taking another look Jenna batch to Bridget done yes she had plenty of space to get it
off she's got that high arcing release and Bridget done again three for four from the three-point line here still in this second quarter so she's gotten hot early and she's been a big reason why Ken State's holding on to this lead down to nine on the shot clock trying to go back inside and the entry pass goes off the hands of Richard Tyler comes away with it Meyer back on the port for Kent [Music] State Elena Meyer with it at the point t on the shot clock down to seven trying to get it into Tyle
r good help Tyler grabs her own rebound Tyler puts it in good work by the freshman in the paint and Todd Stark is looking for a foul call there again the composure from Jana Tyler another offensive rebound for Kent State they have been crushing the glass out rebounding Ball State 25- 11 those opportunities those Second Chance opportuni is coming up in a big way lead back to nine for Kent State Paul State trying to cut into [Music] [Applause] it down to four on the shot clock Hampton puts up the
three dun gathers another [Applause] rebound inside of a minute first quarter the three seed nine-point lead and the basketball PCH all over the rim Tyler going to get call for the foul as she was boxed [Music] out Morris will check back in for Jana Tyler that's Tyler second coach starky wants to be careful with just 45 seconds remaining on the clock no need for her to pick up another quick one here as the first half winds down [Music] Becky Bishoff attacking puts it in it's a Hy play you know y
ou're going to get another possession the old two for one yeah nice finish there from bishof beautiful little shot off the glass there cuts the lead to seven see the 34 second differential between shot clock and first half [Music] clock batch good pass inside Morris finishes Morris hsy play there from Jenna bat heads up the whole way Michaela moris with a strong finish Becky from three rims out Kent State will head to the locker room with a npoint lead so the third seed Kent State 33 the second
seed Ball State 24 a spot in the Mid-American Conference tournament championship game against Buffalo is on the line and take a look at the three ball knock down both ends of the floor because when you think of rebounding you obviously think of the defensive side but this team has been all in on sending everyone to the offensive boards as well and it is paid off in a big way here so far to the first 20 minutes Ball State considers themselves a defensive first team so let's see if they can do def
ense to offense to get things rolling here for them in the third [Applause] quarter Kent State will get the basketball to start this third quarter gray brings it into the four [Music] [Applause] Court that's sh switching and aggressive they're extending the defense are the Cardinals inside Morris good pass to a cutting done great pass by Morris beautiful pass there by Michaela Morris and Bridget done just reading the defense so well she had a wide open driving lane inside easy finish for two Ali
Becky answers with a three ball Becky now with nine in the game and this is what you expect from Ali Becky here in the second half she's going to come up in a big way for her team down the stretch and she opens up the second half scoring J bat steps in can't hit the three nice job by shoemate Katie shoemate can't get it to go and Hampton will knock it over to Richard and coming away with it Ball State another offensive [Music] rebound good Patience by the Cardinals there's [Applause] Richard do
wn to eight on the shot clock kefir steps out little 13-footer rebound dun will control [Applause] it gray into the four [Applause] Court they work it inside to Morris there's dun cut into the basket again and Morris another nice pass and we have a Timeout on the court because that's too easy for the flashes offense lead is ground to 10 3727 Kent State leading Ball State it's been Michaela Morris looking inside to her big running mate Bridget Dunns to Bridget Dunn same twoo right here as Bridget
Dunn now 13 points and nine rebounds following up for 14 point and 15 rebound quarterfinal game against Western Michigan some really incredible Court vision from Michaela Morris and that's what usually happens when you find yourself playing out of the post Ball State throwing three at Morris at times leaving those driving Lanes wide open and Bridget Dunn doing a great job of finding those driving lanes and finishing inside 10-point deficit for the second seed Cardinals trying to cut into it her
e the offensive end Becky the three good good look at it won't go down out of bounds off kefir it will be Kent State [Music] basketball we're letting Ali Becky tie her hair back up reason for the delay in the [Applause] game they're good to go full court pressure [Applause] gray good spot batch blocked Richard with a good defense Here Comes Ball [Applause] State step back three Becky can't get it to go down here comes shate Morris running the court with her [Applause] [Music] [Applause] R slow t
hings down 10 on the shot clock trying to get it in and it contested jump ball Ellie Becky showing why she was ma all defensive team take another look here [Music] that's a great Play That's that is a great play and both of these players shoemate and Becky on the all defensive team they can get it done on both ends of the floor arguably the two best players on the floor here today and they're battling it out together and Becky did a good job of getting around the shoulder so that she did not go
through sh may they work it inside Alec Richard low block nice move can't get it um little under too far under the basket didn't have a clear shot at it so credit Tyler with moving her to a spot where she couldn't really finish yeah Tyler doing a great job on both ends of the floor here today making it difficult for ball State's post players but she's got complete Poise on the offensive [Applause] end 10 on the shot clock Baseline Drive bats puts it in real nice possession no hurry you got a goo
d shot quite frankly just too easy for Ken State as well Ball State no help defense there with Jenna bat driving the the Baseline three ball for Hampton won't go rebound great oh and Tyler got a good look at it couldn't convert you see her slapping her hands she wants that one back yeah almost too wide open was Tyler there Ali Becky taking it down inside foul will be called against the Cardinals to get Hampton coming over the back trying to get the the rebound it's good crossover by Becky to get
to the hoop but couldn't [Applause] finish 543 to go in the third the third seed hanging on to a 12-point lead and took control of this early in the first quarter and really haven't let go they've had control pretty much the entire game Baseline Drive Meyer has it deflected from behind but she gets the ball back gray with it they feed it inside to Dun good pass to Tyler she finishes Bridget dun made that play Tyler gets the bucket The Freshman has eight the big to Big connection has been there
almost this entire third quarter R and one sixth Player of the Year in the conference will try to convert the three-point play yeah big response there from Annie Rous and again both St looking for something need to stop the bleeding on the other side Bridget dun a heads up play here sees J Tyler wide open on the low block feeds it to her for the easy finish and then it's Ali Becky feeding Annie Rous inside with an opportunity for the extra point she does not convert but still a great finish insi
de for the sixth Player of the Year 4130 is our [Music] score I tell you what Tyler showed a lot of patience that freshman don't usually have on the offensive end everybody's usually in a hurry to make their move this freshman is never in a hurry gets the bucket inside again Jan Tyler is going to be a problem in this league for a long time coming again let's not forget she's coming off a concussion protocol the quarterfinals first back hits the three we're going to step aside take time out 4333
the three ball by Bishop draws the second seed to within 10 spot in the mid- American Conference Championship Game on the [Music] line stepped up in a big way all tournament long hits the three ball there this time a nice feed inside and cuts to the hoop gets the bucket on the assist from Morris cut to the basket again dun has 13 points and 10 rebounds she had 14 points and 15 rebounds in the quarterfinal Inn she averages 6 and2 and 6.7 you need players to step up in tournament time Bridget dun
is stepping up her basketball IQ is second to none as we've seen over the last two games she's just reading the floor so well picking her spots taking her shots when they're open and she has come up huge for this Ken State team in back to back games K State the 10-point lead and the [Music] basketball open three Meyer can't get it to go dun fighting for it keeps it alive oh and Nyla Hampton goes to the deck and comes away with it for PA state Becky in transition Hampton will attack tries to get
it to Rous loose ball gathered by the flashes here's dun Tyler double team doesn't matter puts it in 12 for the Freshman Jana Tyler shown why she was part of the maal freshman team yeah Jana Tyler has been Sensational for Ken State here today again she's been learning behind Michaela Morris all season long and you can see the growth from the start of the season to now she has become such a vital piece and Todd Stark offense and defense nice pick and roll and Rous will head to the basket after sh
e gets fouled kefir checking back in Annie Rous reading the play really well Elena Meyer having to step up a little out of position there the defensive rotations were off and Rous taking [Applause] advantage Rous trying to cut it back to 10 she [Music] does Richard will check back in for routes Rous seven points in 11 minutes off the bench for Brady Seline the [Music] Cardinals D gathers the loose ball [Applause] 10 on the shot clock Sho in the lane puts it in Katie schume hits double figures wi
th 10 I was just about to say that Ball State had done a really good job of containing Katie shate here in the third quarter and just like that she answers Becky can't get it to go Richard the rebound and she'll put it in Alex cleans up the offensive board puts it back lead back to 10 for Kent State big Second Chance opportunity there from Alex Richard that's the kind of possession that Ball State wants they don't want it to be one and done they need to continue to crash the offensive glass been
impressed with Kent State they're not it's not that they're slowing it down they're running their offense and they happen to be running it effectively for 22 seconds and getting good looks and again it's interesting as like that my cuts to the hoop Meer Sensational coming off the bench there K State is at its best when it's playing fast again they play at the highest paced in the mac and that's kind of the game plan that Ball State had coming in Becky hits the jumper a Ken state has continued t
o respond they are actually continuing to really succeed while slowing it down which is not really their game usually on a night toight basis but they're finding success in it right now the thing is their starting point guard you alluded to Kin Hower has been injured for the last n 10 games so they're doing this with di gray running the point in in elanda Meyer coming in and Tyler gets a good look she's going to the line yeah continue to feed Jana Tyler she has been such a force here all day lon
g Jenna batch reading the defense to are drawn on Tyler and again Tyler with an opportunity to convert for two at the free throw line she's got 12 points in the game in 15 minutes she's six of 10 from the field her first free throw she also has three rebounds they don't miss anything when she comes in for Morris not a thing not not a thing at all and and Coach again saying she probably would have been up there in conversation for freshman of the year had her minutes been up more but he has such
a good balance between Tyler and Morris that he doesn't need to play her crazy minutes he's building her confidence right now another offense Ive rebound as shate runs it down and they get a a fresh 20 and Morris will come in and Sub in for [Applause] Tyler shoemate gets it in patch pulls up can't get it to go another offensive rebound by shate jump ball possession Kent State and Jenna batch here with a good look just can't get it to fall somehow someway Katie Shake comes up in that mix but they
call it jump ball here possession stays in favor of the golden flashes shate has a double double as well with 10 points and 11 rebounds 13 points and 11 rebounds and she just finds a way consistently and constantly playing hard battling for those rebounds and she gets a little midrange jumper there in the paint Bishoff can't get it to go she made another rebound and a foul on Richard Reaching Across [Applause] Morris and mule checks in for Nyla Hampton 51.4 remaining in the third a fresh 20 for
for Kent State as they'll inbound it Morris gets to her spot over the bucket gets her own rebound Stripped Away by [Applause] bishof 5239 is our [Applause] score an 11 second different IAL between shot clock third quarter clock [Applause] Becky kefir three won't go rebound shate 13th [Applause] rebound moving pick they say that Morris kind of swung the hip out and caught the defender Todd starky chatting up with the refs here he's looking for other calls there but that one was certainly a movin
g screen as we take another look at it yeah she just steps right out there can't do that can't do that she tried to hurdle her Mule the three won't go at the end of three Kent State continues to lead this one 5239 flash is getting big games from BR Bridget dun we're set to begin the fourth quarter rocket mortgage Fieldhouse Ball State the second seed has not been able to dig out of the hole they dug themselves in the first quarter two of 15 from the field scored just five points and Kent State h
as been able to maintain um a double digit lead most of this third quarter and now going into the fourth with it and that's why when you talk to coaches so often they talk about needing to start games off strong because it can set the tone for the remainder of the game now Ball State has clearly bounced back in every quarter since but five points in the first quarter is just not going to do it and they've had a really hard time recovering and going on a run themselves to build them back up now t
hey play defense well enough that they can create some points in a hurry but they need to start and there's Ali Becky knocking down the jumper that'll certainly help Ali Becky can score and she can score in a hurry leading this Ball State team bad can't get it but another offensive rebound that's another thing the the flashes of you as you have said have just crushed Ball State on the offensive and the rebounds in general that was the first thing Todd starky told me yesterday when I asked key th
e game he said offensive rebounds we've got to we've got to crash the offensive glass we did it the last game we played them we got to convert bats puts it in and they have 14 offensive rebounds so that's 14 extra possessions they're out rebounding Ball State 4117 and again now it's 16-2 in terms of Second Chance points and that is a huge reason why we're seeing Ken State continue to build this lead mule hits the three from the corner a big three for Hannah mule lead is down to 10 yeah that was
a huge three from Hannah mule she hasn't get a ton of opportunities to shoot them but she is shooting just about 44% from the three-point line when she does Bridget dun gives it back good movement on the [Applause] perimeter that one thrown away as kefir was waiting for it gets the [Applause] turnover Bishoff attacking draws the foul good take Inside by mine Bishoff yeah a lot of good body movement here from Ball State Bishoff taking it hard inside the defensive rotations were just off from Ken
state from the beginning jeda bad Lo lost Bishop on the curl and then it was Morris that was just out of position there and then unfortunately forced her to have to foul Nyla Hampton checks in when when that offensive player gets their shoulder in front of the defender that's when they know they have them and she did that and was going to the hoop and Y she had that quick First Step there makes the first free throw good look at Ali Becky leads Ball State 13 points getting her a breather so she c
an come in for the final stretch run lead down to eight as close as Ball State has been they it down to six uh a little bit in the third quarter but down to eight looking for some stops defensively are the [Applause] Cardinals they work it down on the low block Tyler misses and then makes it Tyler keeps after it J Tyler has been a starve here today she continues to show her Poise and that's rare from a freshman Hampton the reverse puts it in she answers big response there from Nyla Hampton again
she has that offensive ability know for her defensive skills but she can score two you see the second chance points we were talking about 18-2 and again what you have to be impressed with is Kent State has the lead ball State's closing it but they understand there's no need to rush batch a good shot what a strong take and finish there from Jenna batch all the confidence in the world on her drive that's a big bucket for Ken State as they push that lead up to 10 [Applause] [Music] Again little tw
o-person Game Richard ends up with it good defense by dun Richard at a look couldn't finish Kent State 10-point lead and the basketball too many oneandone possessions for Ball State especially down the stretch of this game it seems like every time Ken state gets a shot up they seem to have a second opportunity Ball State can't say the same Z down to nine on the shot clock three ball shoe mate won't go rebound Bishoff they get shoe mate with the foul [Music] substitutions Annie Rous coming back i
n as is Ali Becky Rous seven points in 11 minutes and Becky the leading scorer for the Cardinals with 13 so this is where Brady s and the Cardinals trying to tighten this one [Music] [Applause] up Becky thought about the three L of standing around Hampton pulls up can't get it to go gets her own rebound Nyla Hampton kicks it out Bishop lets two fly by and can't knock it down keeper the rebound and dun will foul that was a big offensive possession for Ball State two offensive rebounds creating th
ose Second Chance opportunities still haven't been able to convert but synchron nice defending and she ducked between both of them Bishop just a little shot fake didn't even really have to shot fake there and both Defenders flying at her Hampton will inbound it 558 to go in the fourth in a turnover stolen away by [Applause] [Music] batch 16 on the shot clock Tyler comes out now will reposition on the low block batch good look at the Baseline Runner won't go ripped away by shoate another offensiv
e Rebound in essence they extend the [Applause] possession little hand foul out front on Ali [Applause] Becky 52 remaining fourth quarter 10-point lead the rebounding Advantage 44-2 for Kent State 16 of those are offensive [Music] rebounds 10 on the shot clock little turnaround on the Baseline by sh that's a shot clock violation shot clock violation on and Tyler is slow to get up and you mentioned she just cleared concussion protocol that's going to be the end uh we're going to step aside for th
e immedate time out inside of 5 minutes 459 to go here in the fourth 5848 is the lead 10-point lead for Ken State 5848 and three flashes are in double figures now led by Jana Tyler who has 15 points off the bench in 18 uh minutes remind remind you 2024 women's final four right here game start Friday the 5th Championship Sunday the 7th Cleveland last hosted him in 2007 we talked to Dr John Stein Breer Commissioner of M American Conference M American Conference in conjunction with the Greater Clev
eland sports Association hosting that along with rocket Fieldhouse week long of events that are going on uh in conjunction with that women's final four it is going to be so incredible and what a year for Cleveland to host the women's final four women's basketball has never been hotter and there is the potential to have some incredible teams here in this city I think we're going to get a foul on Morris on the low block kind of pushing Ral off the block fourth team foul so no free throws just yet
Ball State trying to cut into this 10-point lead [Applause] they get it in fishof now with [Applause] it nice Cut Becky to Hampton great look beautiful back door read there Ali Becky keeping her head up the entire time and Nyla Hampton seeing she had the step the back door cut for the easy finish and don't look now but ball States just cut it to eight Cardinals need some stops they are a defensive first team and it's a a tough call on Rous yeah you got to give the player at least a little space
to make a turn there any Rous just running out there to defend wasn't looking to foul there at all we'll take a look again Ali Becky Nyla Hampton just seeing nobody was even paying attention to her in an easy two on the back door cut there's the steel by Beck he couldn't control it [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] though down to nine on the shot clock not sure that the flash is yeah B batch did realize it kefir good hands out of bounds it will still be Flash's ball just four on the shot clo
ck Jenna bash with the strong take but kefir a nice clean block there just 4 seconds on the shot clock here officials talking about it seeing if the official far away had a better view of it they'll stay with it they inbound it patch can't get it to go Becky grabs the rebound good defensive stand for the Cardinals Hampton in the [Applause] [Music] Corner Patience by the Cardinals on a good [Applause] shot inside kefir that's a real good one but can't finish good entry pass by Rous kefir can't fi
nish really good look there not an easy pass to make either kefir just unable to convert inside gray Tyler checked back in at that last break in play so that's good news and Tyler 15 points leading the flashes down to seven on the shot clock batch draws a foul late in the shot clock Hampton closed out and and got a piece of her Jenna batch has done a really good job all day of finding those driving Lanes she's struggled a bit to convert on some of of those shots but again a nice strong take here
and an opportunity for two at the free throw [Music] line leaves the first one short batch an 80% free throw shooter on the season splits the pair lead back to [Applause] nine [Music] they free up Bishoff out of bounds Kent State basketball off fish off's foot little bit of frustration by the cinal is Kent State's defense has been pretty good it really has been a lot of defensive pressure there Ball State just hasn't been able to find an offensive Rhythm nearly all day and Todd starky is firing
up the Kent State crowd here encouraging them to get loud as we are now under 3 minutes here and a chance as the a trip to the championship game is on the line and looking good for Kent State good look inside Tyler draws the foul again did not hurry the defender went up got the foul foul yeah she reads the defense so well she continues to draw draw two Defenders there Jenna batch with the quick feed inside kefir just out of position there a little hop step and Jana Tyler taking her time and now
again an opportunity at the free throw line it's one to two from the line now 16 points in the game after that first make that kind of illustrates the patience too she let the defender go by her and then had the look she wanted yeah got fouled and we go to the line [Applause] splits the pair rebound dun puts it in and one Bridget dun now 15 points 133 rebounds and a free throw coming the lead grows to 12 Dave that might be the play of the game right now janate Tyler misses the second free throw
somehow Bridget dun comes up with the rebound a strong take inside draws the foul and collects the free throw as well we got a 13-point game now all momentum in favor of the golden flashes largest lead for Kent State was 14 in the third three-pointer off the front of the iron dun gathers another rebound approaching 2 minutes remaining 13-point lead for the flashes there have the basketball batch loses control on the drive Becky with the basket ball inside a two Becky loses control of it jump ba
ll Kent Kent State possession arrow so they will get the basketball 140 two remaining the four seed Buffalo took out the top seed Toledo in overtime and now the three seed Kent State a minute 42 away from taking out the top seed Ball State stolen by kefir Becky long three iron Kent State basketball Todd starky telling his flashes to be patient there's Brady [Music] SEL gray gets it in and he'll get it back from [Applause] Tyler di [Applause] gray Todd starky calls the timeout 117 is what separat
es Kent State from a spot in the MidAmerican Conference Championship Game 12 seconds on the shot clock and kayy we've talked about it there's no secret what the it's 4416 in the paint rebounding is 4822 in front of in favor of Kent State they have 17 offensive rebounds so they have almost as many offensive rebounds as Ball State has rebounds that has been the difference no question in today's game and you even saw a sense of urgency from Ball State on their offensive end looking to get a quick b
asket but it's been those one andone opportunities too many of them when Ken State continues to find ways to crash the offensive glass completely the game that's right there and and again it all started on the the first quarter Dave on the defensive end Ken State doing a great job limiting Paul state to just five first quarter points and they just have never been able to recover two of 15 from the field is what Paul state was they get the [Applause] turnover Becky in Rhythm can't get that three
to go kefir [Applause] crashing and I think they said gray was on the sideline when she touched the ball so possession will go to Ball State but right now the uh the enemy is not only the scoreboard it's the clock 10 105 remaining and it's been a three and a half minute scoreless drought for Ball State at a time you were you cut it to like eight but you you haven't been able to make the [Applause] shots Becky the three front of the iron rebound to di gray inside of a minute and the flashes will
advance to the Mid-American Conference Championship game and the chance to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament it'll be Kent State and Buffalo the three four seeds planing for a Mid-American Conference Championship and there are a lot of you have four golden flashes and double figures you've got 16 for Tyler 16 for Dunn 12 for shate batch with 10 you want to talk rebounds 14 for shoemate 13 for [Applause] [Music] dun and checking in for Kent State is Abby ogal first one rolled in By Di [Applause]
Gray we touched on it a little bit gray assumed the point guard position when Karen Hower injured her knee it's been 10 games now and the flashes planed for a Mid-American Conference Championship tomorrow morning Bishoff three won't go gray gets the rebound and now they can just get into the four court and let the clock expire plenty of smiles plenty of Cheers the third seed Todd starky's flashes really dominated the game from beginning to end Ball State two of 15 never could climb back into it
led for a brief minute in that first quarter in a lot of respect between Brady SEL Todd starky 6550 Kent State advances and will play Buffalo for the minid ameran conference Championship tomorrow the first time that they've had a chance at this in a quite a bit of time they have not won a conference tournament since 2002 coach Todd starky telling me was going to come down to effort for his group they left it all out on the floor here today
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