Women's Basketball Earns 75-69 Exhibition Win Over Hoosier Lady Stars

Women's Basketball Loses At Northern Illinois

Women's Basketball Earns 75-69 Exhibition Win Over Hoosier Lady Stars

November 07, 2008 | Women's Basketball

By: Ball State Athletics

MUNCIE, Ind. - Junior forward Danielle Gratton (Bethel Park, Pa./Illinois) scored 22 points, and sophomore forward Emily Maggert (Paris, Ill./Paris) recorded 14 points as the Ball State University women's basketball team earned a 75-69 win in its exhibition against the Hoosier Lady Stars Friday night at Worthen Arena.

The win also marked head coach Kelly Packard's debut at the helm of the Cardinals.

"Obviously we have got a lot of room to grow," said Packard. "I really felt like I was disappointed early on in our defensive intensity, we just really came out soft and we have practiced much better than that so that was disappointing and frustrating. On the positive side I will take 44 percent from the three-point line and I will take making 12 three's. I told them they cannot rely on their shooting though we have to play defense."

For the game the Cardinals shot 44 percent from behind the arc making 12 of 27. Gratton was perfect from three-point range going 4-for-4. Gratton also managed the lone double-double for BSU with 11 boards.

Junior guard Audrey McDonald (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) scored in double digits with 11 points while teammate senior guard Kiley Jarrett (Bloomington, Ind./North) finished with 10 points and led the team with seven assists.

Gratton scored the first points of the game after draining a three in the opening minutes. The Cardinals trailed 8-5 at the 17:41 mark but quickly rattled off a three-pointer from junior guard Audrey McDonald (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) to tie the game 8-8.

The remainder of the half was a barn burner between Ball State and the Hoosier Lady Stars. The score had five lead changes and six ties. Free throws from sophomore guard Kyleigh Jones (Elwood, Ind./Elwood) in the ending minutes of the first half tied the game at 37.

Ball State started the second half slow letting the Hoosier Lady Stars take a six-point edge with 16:53 remaining. Maggert sparked a seven-point run for the Cardinals after a lay-up at the 13:23 mark which would give the Ball State its first lead of the second half with 12:25 left.

The Hoosier Lady Stars made a late surge to give them back their six-point cushion over Ball State late in the half with just over five minutes remaining.

Back-to-back treys from Maggert and Gratton tied the game for the 14th time (64-64) with just over four minutes to play. Ball State continued with its hot shooting making its next three baskets given them an eight point lead (72-64) at the 2:01 mark.

The Cardinals managed to hold on to its late lead over the Hoosier Lady Stars for the victory.

Ball State will open its season at Indiana, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., as part of the preseason WNIT.