ATHENS, Ohio ? The Ball State women's basketball team rallied from a 16-point second half deficit to force overtime before falling to Mid-American Conference East Division leading Ohio 88-82 on Wednesday night at the Convocation Center. The Cardinals closed the second half on a 13-2 run to force overtime before suffering just their second conference loss of the season.
The loss in the battle of MAC divisional leaders drops the Cardinals to 9-11 overall on the season and into second place in the MAC-West Division with a 5-2 mark. Ball State trails Western Michigan (6-1) by one game in the West Division after the Broncos' 79-71 victory over Bowling Green. Ohio moves into sole possession of first place in the MAC-East Division with a 5-2 conference mark and an 11-8 overall record.
“We showed a lot of heart down the stretch fighting back during our comeback but we just didn't have enough fire power in overtime,” acting head coach Lisa McDonald said. “Ohio is a very talented team and they played a great game tonight. We will get back and get re-focused for Buffalo on Sunday afternoon.”
Freshman forward Emily Maggert (Paris, Ill./Paris) led five Cardinals in double figures in the loss as she scored a team-high 20 points. She finished the game shooting eight-of-nine from the field and was four-of-six from the free throw line. Sophomore guard Audrey McDonald (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) added 19 points and six rebounds as she was five-of-nine from three-point land and hit all four of her free throws.
The Cardinals came out of the gate slowly against Ohio as they fell behind 9-5 through the first four minutes of the game. The Cardinals responded to the slow start with an 8-2 run as Maggert started to find her range. She scored all eight points in the run as the Cardinals took a 13-11 lead.
Ohio (11-8, 5-2 MAC) answered with a couple of three-pointers before junior guard Kiley Jarrett (Bloomington, Ind./North) converted an old-fashioned three-point play. Senior forward Julie DeMuth (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville) added a basket down low to tie the game again at 20-20.
The Bobcats broke open the first half with a 10-0 run over the next four minutes to force a Ball State timeout. Ohio hit two three-pointers in the run to take a 30-20 lead. The Cardinals pulled back within seven points before the Bobcats scored seven straight to take their largest lead of the half at 39-25. McDonald nailed a pair of free throws in the final minute to send BSU into the break down 39-27.
Ball State connected on 44 percent (11-of-25) from the field in the first half despite hitting just 16.7 percent (1-of-6) from long range. Ohio connected on 50 percent (17-of-34) from the field and 50 percent (four-of-eight) from three-point land in the half. The Bobcats also dominated play on the glass in the first half as they out-rebounded the Cardinals by a 20-12 margin, including nine offensive boards.
After Ohio came out of the break with a three-pointer to start the half, the Cardinals posted a 7-1 run to force an Ohio timeout with the lead narrowed to 43-35. McDonald was the catalyst in the spurt with a pair three-pointers trying to ignite the Cardinals' rally.
Ohio responded to the narrowed deficit as it scored eight straight points to take its largest lead of the game at 51-35. Ball State started the chip away at the deficit as Jarrett scored on back-to-back possessions and McDonald nailed a three-pointer. The Bobcats maintained a double-digit lead for most of the half until it held a 68-57 lead with four minutes left in the second half.
Ball State finally played with a sense of urgency as the Cardinals rallied for a 13-2 run to tie the score at 70-70. DeMuth started the run with a three-pointer from the top of the key on her way to eight points in the four minute stretch. The Cardinals pulled within two points with a minute left as Maggert converted two free throws.
Ball State forced an Ohio turnover on the ensuing possession and DeMuth converted a pass from junior guard Porchia Green (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) to tie the game at 70-70 with 44 seconds remaining.
The Cardinals picked up a key turnover from Ohio as Lauren Kohn was called for an offensive foul against Green to give the ball back to the Cardinals with 21 seconds left in the half. Ball State started the run the clock down and got the ball into DeMuth but she was called for an offensive foul as well to turn the ball back over to Ohio. The Bobcats had one final look at the game-winning basket in regulation by Jennifer Bushby's jumper was off the mark to force overtime.
Ball State shot 66.7 percent from the field (16-of-24) in the second half during its comeback and 50 percent (four-of-eight) from three-point land. Ohio hit 46.4 percent (13-of-28) from the field in the second half and three-of-six from long range to hold off the Cardinals.
Ohio came out of the break to start the overtime period and took advantage three Ball State turnovers to score the first nine points of the extra frame. The Cardinals started the claw back into the game as Maggert scored on back-to-back possessions. Ball State couldn't get a stop on the defensive end though and Ohio connected on its free throws in the final minute to seal the victory between the divisional leaders.
The Cardinals finished the game shooting 57.1 percent from the field (32-of-56) and 40 percent (six-of-15) from long range. Ball State was unusually off from the free throw line as the Cardinals connected on just 60 percent (12-of-20) from the charity stripe.
Ohio finished the game shooting 50.7 percent (34-of-67) from the field and 53.4 percent (eight-of-15) from long range. The Bobcats were 12-of-16 from the free throw line in the victory, including nine-of-10 in the overtime period. Ohio finished the game with a 36-27 advantage on the glass, including 13 offensive rebounds.
DeMuth finished the game just shy of a double-double with 16 points and eight rebounds. She was six-of-nine shooting from the field but an uncharacteristic three-of-eight from the free throw line. Jarrett added 13 points on six-of-10 shooting from the field and also dished out six assists. Green finished with 10 points and a team-high seven assists in the loss.
Ohio was paced by Kohn who scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Jennifer Poff added 14 points and a game-high six steals in the victory while Lauren Hmiel chipped in 14 points as five different Bobcats scored in double figures in the victory.
The Cardinals will return to action Sunday afternoon as they host MAC-East foe Buffalo at Worthen Arena. Game time is set for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on the Ball State Sports Network.
####
