Women?s Basketball Loses To No. 13 Louisville, 82-51

Sunday, December 7

Louisville, Ky.

Noon

Ball State University

Louisville

Women?s Basketball Loses Season Opener At Michigan 87-67

Women?s Basketball Loses To No. 13 Louisville, 82-51

December 07, 2008 | Women's Basketball

By: Ball State Athletics

LOUISVILLE, Ky. ? The Ball State University women's basketball team (3-3) fell to No. 13 Louisville (7-1) (82-51) Sunday afternoon at Freedom Hall despite only trailing 33-31 at the half.

Sophomore Emily Maggert (Paris, Ill./Paris) led Ball State in scoring with 15 points while teammate senior Porchia Green (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) netted14. Junior Danielle Gratton (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) led BSU defensively with nine rebounds.

Louisville had three players in double figures with Angel McCoughtry leading all scorers with 21 points.

Louisville opened the second half with a basket. But Green answered back with a layup, still ahead by two Louisville went on a 9-0 run to take a 45-32 edge over Ball State with just over 16 minutes remaining.

Freshman forward Suzanne Grossnickle (Belleville, Ill./Belleville East) snapped Louisville's run after being fouled under the basket. Grossnickle made it a three-point play after making her free throw.

Louisville continued dominating the second half leading by as many as 17 (54-37) with 14:29 left to play. Ball State found itself in a 20-point deficit (63-23) with 9:55 left in the game and could not overcome it.

Ball State's defense held senior forward McCoughtry to only six points in the first half. McCoughtry scored 15 points in the second half.

It was Ball State that got on the board first over No. 13 Louisville with a Green layup. After that both teams traded baskets with five ties and five lead changes. Louisville's biggest lead of the first half was five (17-12) at the 12:51 mark. Gratton connected on a jumper from Green's assist to start a 5-0 run for Ball State. Louisville answered back with a 5-0 run of its own. Maggert then tied game at 18-18 with 9:55 on the clock. With 7:10 remaining Ball State had built its largest lead of the period (22-18). The game was tied 29-29 after a Maggert layup at the 3:04 mark. Louisville had a four point edge with 1:11 left but Green knocked down two free throws to make it a 33-31 ball game at the half.