Shorthanded, Ball State women's basketball wins 3 games in 5 days

MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball State women's basketball didn't let playing shorthanded for three games in five days effect it this week. Following its win over Central Michigan last Saturday, Ball State (12-7, 5-4 MAC) earned conference victories over Miami on Monday and Buffalo on Tuesday.

On Monday, playing with just eight players, the Cardinals weathered a strong RedHawks run in the fourth quarter to hold on to the win. Ball State was led by Ally Becki (19 points, five rebounds, three assists), Chyna Latimer (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Annie Rauch (11 points, seven rebounds).

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On Wednesday, Ball State was once again without one of its top players in Sydney Freeman. But the Cardinals responded as Becki — who hit a halfcourt shot before half that appeared on ESPN's Sports Center Top 10 — led the way with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Thelma Dis Agustsdottir (two assists) and Estel Puiggros (five assists) stepped up with 16 points and four rebounds each while Latimer added five points and a team-high 12 rebounds.

Ball State will return to action next week when it travels to Ohio (Feb. 2) and hosts Bowling Green (Feb. 5).

Ball State men's basketball: Tyler Cochran leads Ball State in a win over his former team, Northern Illinois

Here's what else happened this week (Feb. 24-27) in East Central Indiana high school and collegiate athletics:

Muncie Burris, Muncie Central to host inaugural City of Champions invitational

Muncie Burris and Muncie Central are set to host a one-day basketball invitational tournament Saturday, Jan. 29, at the Muncie Fieldhouse. In addition to Burris and Central, South Bend Adams and Greenfield-Central will compete.

The opening round games will feature Burris vs. Central at 10 a.m. and South Bend Adams vs. Greenfield-Central after. The consolation will be played at 6 p.m. with the championship being played after.

The event also allowed students from Burris and Central to work with Ball State University's Sports Link program on an after-school program to teach high school students sports production skills. The event will be streamed via video and/or radio by high school students with the help of Sports Link.

High school girls basketball

Daleville beats Liberty Christian

Daleville beat Liberty Christian 45-38. The Broncos were led by Audrey Voss (22 points, 14 rebounds), Emi Isom (11 points, six rebounds) and Trishell Johnson (four points, 11 rebounds).

Monroe Central beats Delta

Monroe Central topped Delta 46-29. The Golden Bears were led by Lexi Conatser, who scored 11. The Eagles were led by a 25-point performance from Abby Rouse.

Lapel tops Wapahani

Wapahani lost to Lapel 45-31. The Raiders were led by Kendyl Thrasher (12 points) and Lala Lee (11 points, six rebounds).

Jay County beats Richmond

Jay County beat Richmond 60-36. The Patriots were led by Renna Schwieterman (22 points), Madison Dirksen (12 points) and Izzy Rodgers (11 points).

Greenfield-Central beats Yorktown

Yorktown lost to Greenfield-Central 39-31. The Tigers were led by Amari Wright, who scored 12 points.

Kokomo beats Muncie Central

Muncie Central lost to Kokomo 40-39. The Bearcats were led by Jasi Scaife (11 points, 18 rebounds).

Mt. Vernon tops New Castle

New Castle lost to Mt. Vernon 54-26. The Trojans were led by Maddy Meek, who scored 12 points.

Blackford tops Adams Central

Blackford beat Adams Central, 59-51, to earn its 17th win of the season. The Bruins were led by Olivia Leas (20 points, 10 points), Liv Water (14 points, six assists) and Sydnee Morris (12 points, eight rebounds).

Shenandoah beats Daleville

Shenandoah beat Daleville 56-44. The Broncos were led by Audrey Voss (17 points, five rebounds) and Trishell Johnson (six points, nine rebounds).

McCutcheon beats Muncie Central

Muncie Central lost to McCutcheon 57-46. The Bearcats were led by Jasi Scaife (12 points, 14 rebounds), Gabby Douglass (10 points, five assists) and Garynn Sims-Jones (10 points).

Wes-Del beats Cowan

Wes-Del defeated Cowan 56-55.

Winchester beats Northeastern to clinch TEC title

Winchester beat Northeastern, 75-48, to clinch the Tri-Eastern Conference championship. The Golden Falcons were led by Neveah Lanter (21 points), Caitlyn Campbell (20 points), Gena Moore (11 points) and Taylor Hicks (10 points).

Blue River tops Monroe Central

Blue River beat Monroe Central 53-41. The Golden Bears were led by Sydney Patterson, who scored 17 points.

Mount Vernon beats Delta

Delta lost to Mount Vernon 54-21. The Eagles were led by Abby Rouse (14 points) and Sydney Stroble (six points).

Wapahani beats Shenandoah

Wapahani defeated Shenandoah 43-19. The Raiders were led by Lala Lee (16 points), Camryn Wise (12 points, seven rebounds, five steals) and Lauren Luce (seven rebounds).

Jay County tops Heritage

Jay County defeated Heritage 62-22 to finish the regular season with a 20-3 record. The Patriots were led by Madison Dirksen (24 points), Izzy Rodgers (15 points) and Renna Schwieterman (15 points, five assists).

New Castle beats Anderson

New Castle defeated Anderson 51-36. The Trojans were led by Maddy Meek (21 points, 13 rebounds) and Emma Hart (11 points, 11 rebounds).

Wes-Del beats Centerville

Wes-Del defeated Centerville 53-34 to end the regular season with an 8-11 record.

High school boys basketball

Winchester tops Yorktown

Winchester beat Yorktown 64-53. The Golden Falcons were led by Brooks Burelison (19 points), Kam Preston (14 points) and Gage Patterson (eight points). The Tigers were led by AJ Dunn (17 points) and Adam Morrow (10 points).

Muncie Burris beats Southern Wells

Muncie Burris beat Southern Wells 66-56. The Owls were led by Asher Donahue, who scored 20 points.

Blackford beats Daleville

Blackford defeated Daleville 62-50. The Bruins were led by Dawson Hundley (20 points), Mickey Waters (10 points) and Gage Baker (10 points).

Seton Catholic beats Muncie Burris

Muncie Burris lost 76-65 against Seton Catholic. The Owls were led by Colin McBride, who scored 18 points.

High school swimming & diving

Jay County girls, Muncie Burris boys win tri-meet at Jay County

On the girls side, Jay County beat Muncie Burris (147-100) and Blackford (163-84). Burris edged Blackford (112-110). Winners included: Jay County's 200 medley relay team, 400 freestyle relay team, Mara Bader (50 freestyle, 100 butterfly) and Kenzie Huey (100 backstroke), Burris' 200 freestyle relay team, Jasmine Cai (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle), Elli Williams (200 IM, 100 freestyle) and Jocelyn Mercier (diving) along with Blackford's Sophia Jennerjahn (100 breaststroke).

On the boys side, Muncie Burris beat Blackford (152-69) and Jay County (144-82). Jay County beat Blackford (105-95). Winners included: Muncie Burris' 200 medley relay team, 200 freestyle relay team, Isaiah Bushong (200 freestyle), Kody Coyne (200 IM), Justin Xia (50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke), Josiah Branam (100 freestyle) and Gage Palilonis (500 freestyle) along with Jay County's 400 freestyle relay team and Kyle Sanders (100 backstroke).

Delta, New Castle split

Delta won the boys meet 129-50 while New Castle won the girls meet 97-86.

Winners for the Trojans included Lylah Hutson (200 freestyle, 100 freestyle), Olivia Owens (200 IM, 500 freestyle) and Sydney Mathews (100 backstroke) on the girls side along with Cameron Poe (100 butterfly) and the 400 freestyle relay team on the boys side.

Jay County sweeps Marion

Jay County's girls (199-93) and boys (124-57) swimming and diving teams swept Marion.

The winners for the Patriots included all six relay teams, Morgan Dehoff (200 freestyle), Emily Dues (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle), Maddy Snow (diving), Mara Bader (100 backstroke) and Zion Beiswanger (100 breaststroke) on the girls side along with Josh Monroe (200 freestyle, 100 freestyle), Nick Lyons (200 IM), Kyle Sanders (50 freestyle, 100 backstroke) and Joe Dow (500 freestyle) on the boys side.

High school gymnastics

New Castle finishes 1st at Connersville meet

New Castle scored a 92.7, finishing in front of Connersville and Franklin County. The Trojans were led by Laura Fischer (first, vault), Emma Troxell (third, bars; first, beam) and Sydney Hamm (second, floor; third, all-around).

Jay County finishes 2nd in Huntington North Invite

Jay County scored a 61.96 and finished second as a team at the Huntington North Invite. The Patriots were led by Erin Ring, who finished fourth in the all-around (26.85) and vault (8.3), Coryn Blalock, who finished fourth on the floor (8.05) and Mattie Ardizzone, who finished fifth on the vault (8.0).

Monroe Central's Miner commits to Indiana Wesleyan football

Ben Miner, an offensive and defensive lineman at Monroe Central, announced his commitment to Indiana Wesleyan football. Miner was a member of a Monroe Central team that went a combined 34-10 in the past four years, including a 10-0 mark this past season before it fell to South Adams in the sectional semifinals.

"First and foremost I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me the ability to play football at the next level," Miner said in a tweet, where he also thanked his parents for "their constant support," coaches for their "guidance," teammates for giving him "relationships that will last a lifetime" and the Monroe Central community "for all the support."

Ball State announces date for annual #MuncieOut

Ball State's annual #MuncieOut will be on Feb. 4 when Ball State men's basketball hosts Toledo at 9 p.m. on ESPNU. This years event features tickets from $5-10, free parking, $1 hot dogs (while supplies last), an entrance to win a limited-edition prize pack and admission into the women's game against Bowling Green the following day, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m.

Ball State dominates weekly MAC, MIVA awards

Ball State won a handful of weekly Mid-American Conference and Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association awards this week.

In men's volleyball, Ball State's Angelos Mandilaris and Nick Martinski were named MIVA offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively. Mandilaris led the Cardinals with 16 kills and a .538 hitting percentage in his first match of the season, a 3-0 sweep over George Mason. In that same match, Martinski had eight block assists and a solo block.

Ball State tennis saw a pair of men's and women's doubles teams earned weekly honors. On the men's side, Ball State's No. 1 duo of Chris Adams and Danilo Kovacev were named MAC Doubles Team of the Week. The two went 2-0 with wins over Eastern Illinois (6-2) and Cleveland State (6-1). On the women's side, Ball State's No. 3 duo of Isabelle Behrman and Amy Kaplan earned MAC Doubles Team of the Week honors. The two earned a 6-2 win over Eastern Illinois and helped the Cardinals to a 7-0 sweep over the Panthers.

In men's diving, Ball State's Hunter Ongay earned his third MAC Men's Diver of the Week honor this season. Ongay led the Cardinals in a diving-only dual at IUPUI, winning the 3-meter with a 294.80 and finishing third on the 1M with a 282.00.

Ball State gymnastics signs 2 more to 2022 recruiting class

Ball State's 2022 recruiting class grew to eight this week with the signings of Dilynn Blair and Leah White.

Blair, a Palm Harbor, Florida native, was a 2019 Level 9 Eastern Championships vault winner (9.225) and has been named to America's Top 100 on vault twice in 2019. Her career-best level 10 scores are 37.575 in the all-around, 9.725 on vault, 9.300 on bars, 9.500 on beam and 9.475 on floor.

White, a Las Vegas native, was a 2019 Region 1 Level 9 Regional Champion, where she tied the 17th-best score on America's Top 100 Level 9 Vault Scores with a 9.825. Her career-best level 10 scores are 37.025 in the all-around, 9.825 on vault, 9.025 on bars, 9.100 on beam and 9.100 on floor.

Robby General covers Ball State and East Central Indiana high school athletics for The Star Press. Contact him via email at rgeneral@gannett.com, on Twitter @rgeneraljr or phone at 765-283-8864.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ball State women's basketball wins 3-straight; IHSAA girls news