Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS – Ball State outscored Butler 42-23 in the second half on Sunday afternoon to record a 74-50 victory. A full-court press helped cause 28 BU turnovers. Those miscues led to 28 Ball State points. The Cardinals improved to 5-2 on the year while the Bulldogs drop to 2-6.
 
Tori Schickel led Butler in a losing effort with 17 points and nine rebounds. She was the only Bulldog to reach a double figure scoring total. The Cardinals were led by Carmen Grande who finished the contest with 16 points, seven assists and eight steals. BSU also got a lift from Destiny Washington who posted 17 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
 
The game got underway with Butler scoring the first seven points of afternoon. Sydney Shelton knocked down a 3-point field goal and then jumped into the passing lane to get a steal and an easy two on the other end. A layup by Schickel increased the lead as Shelton found Schickel in the paint for a layup.
 
The hot start led to a one-point first quarter lead, but the Cardinals would take care of business in the second frame 18-12. Renee Bennett made her presence felt in the second quarter by scoring seven of her 16 points during that stretch. The 6-5 center shot 5-for-8 from the field and added five free throws to reach her scoring total.
 
Ball State ended the game with 13 free throws, nine 3-point field goals and 26 made field goals overall. Their offense was efficient by recording 17 assists on those 26 makes.
 
Butler shot 35 percent from the field and just 23 percent from 3-point range. Kristen Spolyar notched nine points while fellow freshman Sydney Shelton recorded eight. BU got 11 bench points from Kaela Hodges and Taylor Buford. Hodges played well with six points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes of time.
 
Butler will return to action on Dec. 7 with a road game at Arkansas. Tip is slated for 8 PM.