Women?s Hoops Defeats Western Kentucky In OT

Saturday, December 20

Bowling Green, Ky.

7 p.m.

Ball State University

Western Kentucky

December 21, 2008 | Women's Basketball

By: Ball State Athletics

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. ? Senior guard Kiley Jarrett (Bloomington, Ind./North) hit a lay-up with just seconds left in overtime to give Ball State (6-3) its second overtime win of the season after defeating Western Kentucky (6-4) 72-71 Saturday night in E.A. Diddle Arena.

“This is a signature win for our season and for our program,” said head coach Kelly Packard. “During our shoot around talk, I specifically verbalized how talented we are and we need to continue maturing in our strategic scout execution and in our relentless desire to compete. We did that tonight.”

Two Cardinals scored in double figures senior guard Porchia Green (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) led Ball State with 20 while teammate sophomore forward Emily Maggert (Paris, Ill./Paris) netted 16. Ball State out-rebounded WKU, 45-to-42, pulling down 18 offensive boards to the Hilltoppers 11.

Ball State controlled the overtime portion of the game until Western Kentucky took back the lead at 71-70 with 1:42 left. Jarrett then hit the last second lay-up after Maggert dished out the assist to win the game.

Jarrett opened the second half with a trey to bring the Cardinals within five (37-32). Maggert hit a jumper to make it a 37-34 ball game.

Ball State continued its strong defense and shooting from the field in the second half. Freshman forward Suzanne Grossnickle (Belleville, Ill./Belleville) made two free throws then hit a jumper to bring the Cardinals within one (43-42) of WKU. Freshman guard Patrice King (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) gave BSU the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the game after hitting a lay-up at the 11:41 mark making the score 44-43, Ball State.

The Hilltoppers went on an 8-0 run to regain a 54-46 lead with 8:57 left in the game. Junior forward Danielle Gratton (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) would then hit back-to-back jumpers to bring the Cardinals back to life making the score 54-50 with 6:41 remaining.

Maggert completed two three-point plays under the five minute mark to keep the Cardinals within two (58-56) of the Hilltoppers. WKU continued to control the game but Ball State managed to tie the game up 61-61 after a Gratton lay-up. The game remained tied with 12.5 seconds left. WKU had one last chance to win the game but Ball State's defense sent the game into overtime.

Western Kentucky started the game with a quick 4-0 run before junior Audrey McDonald (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) and Green hit back-to-back three-pointers to give Ball State a 6-4 lead at the 17:20 mark, that would be the only time BSU would lead in the first half.

The Hilltoppers would soon go on a 13-0 run to build a 27-10 edge over the Cardinals with 8:21 remaining in the first period. Green snapped WKU's run at the 7:56 mark with a lay-up. Despite the 17-point deficit Ball State fought back with a few short scoring spurts which allowed the Cardinals to come within eight (37-29) after a three-pointer from Green to end the half.