Cardinals Fall in Defensive Battle against South Dakota State
The Ball State women’s basketball team dropped a hard-fought matchup against South Dakota State on Sunday afternoon in Worthen Arena, falling 63-55.
Even in defeat, the Cardinals showcased their signature determination, with key plays illustrating their competitive spirit.
Leading the way for Ball State was senior Marie Kiefer, their all-time block leader, who starred with 19 points and eight rebounds. This. Ally Becki supported Kiefer with 14 points. Throughout the contest, Ball State remained dominant in the paint, outscoring South Dakota State 32-14 amidst a strong defensive showing.
The Cardnals initially trailed as South Dakota built an early lead. Ball State battled back, with Kiefer securing key rebounds and Becki draining a buzzer-beater 3-pointer to pull within two points at the end of the first quarter (20-18).
The Cardinals champions, defenses before the stand against. This. The second quarter showcased the Cardinals at their best, demonstrating their usual defensive prowess while stitching together well-
What factors contributed to Ball State’s strong defensive performance against South Dakota State?
This week, on Inside Ball State Sports, we have a special guest, Coach Lisa Bluder, who witnessed the Cardinals hard-fought game against South Dakota State. Coach Bluder, thanks for joining us.
**Coach Bluder:** Thanks for having me. It was a thrilling game to watch.
**Host:** Absolutely! Despite a 63-55 loss, the Cardinals displayed those trademark defensive qualities, outscoring South Dakota State 32-14 in the paint. How would you assess Ball State’s performance, especially considering Kiefer’s impressive 19 points and eight rebounds?[[1](https://www.ballstatedaily.com/article/2024/12/3-takeaways-from-ball-state-women-s-basketball-s-loss-against-south-dakota-state)]
Do you think Ball State’s strong defensive display was enough to overcome the loss, or is there room for improvement offensively?
