MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State University women's basketball team (10-6, 3-0 MAC) defeated Central Michigan (9-7, 1-3 MAC) 83-75 in Mid-American Conference action Wednesday night in Worthen Arena.
“It was offensive tempo vs. offensive tempo,” said head Ball State women's basketball coach Kelly Packard. “Central Michigan had the highest offensive scoring system in the league. We really took pride in our own offensive attack. Ultimately we were able when we could quickly attack the rim. Our balance offensively and our attention two defensive strategy positioned us to win.”
With the win Ball State has extended its home league win streak to six dating back to last season. This is the third season in a row the Cardinals have opened conference play with a 3-0 record.
Sophomore forward Emily Maggert (Paris, Ill./Paris) led all scorers with 23 points and 17 rebounds. Maggert was just one rebound shy of tying the Worthen Arena record for rebounds by an individual in a game. Senior guard Porchia Green (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) chipped in 18 points while classmate Kiley Jarrett (Bloomington, Ind./North) netted 16. Both Maggert and Green were 2-of-2 from behind the arc.
Ball State led the entire second half, the closest Central Michigan came was with 14:01 left in the game when the Chippewas hit a three-pointer making the score 45-42. The Cardinals out-rebounded CMU 47-to-41. Maggert really turned it on in the second half scoring 19 of her 23 points on the night. Both Jarrett and senior guard Audrey McDonald (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) dished out five assists apiece.
After being honored at half court before the game for becoming the 19th member of the Ball State women's basketball 1,000th point club in the Cardinals win at Western Michigan Saturday, Jan. 7, Green scored the first 11 points in the opening minutes given Ball State an 11-5 advantage over Central Michigan.
The Cardinals led 14-5 before the Chippewas went on a 6-0 run to come within three of at the 11:23 mark. CMU would take its first lead 19-17 with 9:07 left in the half. Ball State would regain its lead after a three-pointer from Green. BSU edged out to 37-30 with 1:08 on the clock after back-to-back three-pointers from Jarrett, before ending the half leading 41-32.
The Ball State University women's basketball team will host Toledo Saturday in Worthen Arena at 1 p.m.
