ST. LOUIS, Mo. ? The Ball State University women's basketball team (7-6) dropped a 79-69 decision to St. Louis (5-9) Sunday afternoon in Chaifetz Arena.
Four Cardinals managed double digit figures with senior guard Porchia Green (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) leading the way with 16 points. Senior guard Kiley Jarrett (Bloomington, Ind./North) along with teammate junior forward Danielle Gratton (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) both netted 11 points. Sophomore forward Emily Maggert (Paris, Ill./Paris) ended the day with 10.
The Billiken's beat the Cardinals on the boards outrebounding Ball State, 48-to-28.
Ball State went on an 8-0 run sparked by freshman Amber Clark (Huntington, Ind./North) in her 2008-09 debut, hitting back-to-back layups and a free throw to bring the Cardinals within five 64-59 with 5:34 left in the game. Clark would then hit another basket from the charity stripe to make it a 64-60 ball game. Despite the Cardinals efforts they could not rally back from their early deficit.
Freshman forward Suzanne Grossnickle (Belleville, Ill./East) hit the first layup of the second half for the Cardinals to make it a 41-28 ball game. Ball State continued to trail by double digits but Gratton hit a three at the 11:48 mark to bring the Cardinals within nine 54-45.
The Billiken's rattled off eight straight points to open the game. St. Louis held Ball State scoreless up until Jarrett hit a three-pointer at the 15:30 mark to put the Cardinals on the board.
Green hit a layup with 13:51 on the clock to bring the Cardinals within five 12-7 of the Billiken's. Ball State could not overcome its shooting woes in the first half only shooting 33 percent from the field while the Billiken's shot 48 percent.
St. Louis led the remainder of the first period, Ball State came within nine late in the half 31-22 with 4:13 remaining but St. Louis went on a 9-0 run building an 18-point edge over the Cardinals. Ball State trailed at the half, 40-26.
Ball State women's basketball opens Mid-American Conference play Wednesday against Eastern Michigan at Worthen Arena. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
