TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ? The Ball State University women's basketball team (7-5) fell 81-75 to host Alabama (11-3) in the championship game of the Crimson Tide Holiday Classic Tuesday evening in Coleman Coliseum.
Junior forward Danielle Gratton (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) led the Cardinals in scoring and on the boards with 18 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Emily Maggert (Paris, Ill./Paris) dropped in 15 points and brought down five boards. Senior guard Porchia Green (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) netted 11 points while teammate junior guard Audrey McDonald (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) ended the day with 12.
McDonald and Green both were named to the Crimson Tide Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team.
The Cardinals were down 65-49 with 9:04 left in the game but Maggert would hit a lay up at the 8:43 mark which sparked a 14-0 run to bring the Cardinals back to life. Ball State's strong defense and hot shooting continued to chip away at the Crimson Tide's lead to bring them within one 65-64 at the 3:59 mark.
The game remained close but Alabama surged ahead 74-68 with 1:04 remaining. Despite the strong second half effort from the Cardinals they ran out of time losing the ball game.
Gratton scored a three-point basket right out of the gates in the second half to cut Alabama's halftime cushion to 45-30. Ball State would go on a 6-0 run at the 17:18 mark sparked by back-to-back three-point plays from McDonald to bring Ball State within nine, 47-38.
Ball State's only lead of the game was in the opening minutes after Gratton scored the first basket for the Cardinals. Alabama then jumped out to a 10-4 lead with 15:52 on the clock.
The Cardinals fought back to come within four 15-11 with 11:44 left but Alabama kept hitting their shots building its biggest lead 26-14 at the 7:23 mark. Ball State would go on a run of its own with back-to-back jumpers from Maggert and free throws to bring the Cardinals within five 28-23 with 4:43 remaining in the half.
Alabama went on a late 10-0 run to make it a 40-23 ball game at the 1:27 mark, the Crimson Tide headed into the half with a 45-27 edge over the Cardinals.
The Ball State University women's basketball team continues its three-game road swing when it travels to St. Louis, Jan. 4. Tip-off is at 3 p.m. (EST).
