MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State University women's basketball team improved to 3-2 on the season with an 81-78 overtime victory over Evansville Friday night in Worthen Arena.
Senior guard Porchia Green (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) scored a career best 28 points in the Cardinals win. Green was shy of a double-double with nine boards. Three other Cardinals managed double digit scoring. Junior Danielle Gratton (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) grabbed her first double-double of the season with 10 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Senior Kiley Jarrett (Bloomington, Ind./North) had 14 points and teammate sophomore Emily Maggert (Paris, Ill./Paris) ended the night with 11.
Evansville held the Cardinals scoreless in the first four minutes of the second half. A Green lay-up snapped the Purple Aces run at the 15:15 mark. Evansville led by as many as 11 points (61-50) with 8:18 remaining. The Cardinals went on an 11-0 run sparked by a three-pointer from Gratton. Ball State then tied the game at 61-61 off of a three from Green.
The Cardinals had a three-point edge with 30 seconds left (73-70) but Evansville tied the game to send it into overtime.
Ball State took a one-point lead with just two minutes remaining and never looked back securing the victory with defense and a free throw from Jarrett.
In the first half both teams traded baskets with four ties and eight lead changes. Ball State's biggest lead of the half Green hit a three-point basket making the score 33-27 with 4:34 left. The Purple Aces answered back coming within two (35-33) with just seconds remaining but junior guard Audrey McDonald (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) hit her second basket from behind the arc to close out the half giving Ball State a 38-33 halftime edge over Evansville.
The Ball State women's basketball team travels to No. 11 Louisville Sunday. Tip-off is Noon.
