MUNCIE, Ind. ? Junior guard Audrey McDonald led the Ball State University women's basketball team in scoring with 22 points in the Cardinals 77-70 victory over Kent State Wednesday night in Worthen Arena.
With the win the Cardinals improved to 16-8 overall and 8-2 in the Mid-American Conference. Kent State drops to 16-6 overall and 5-5 in league play.
McDonald recently became second all-time in the Ball State record books for career three-pointers made and went 6-of-12 tonight from behind the arc. Two other Cardinals managed double digit scoring with sophomore forward Emily Maggert dropping in 18 points and junior forward Danielle Gratton grabbing her fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The Cardinals had one of their best rebounding performances of the season. Ball State out-rebounded Kent State 45-to-25 while holding the Golden Flashes leading scorer Anna Kowalska to only six points.
Kent State opened the second half with a basket but the Cardinals quickly answered after a layup from Maggert. The Golden Flashes continued to trail 42-38 at the 16:35 mark. Ball State would then go on a 12-0 run sparked by a Gratton jumper. Back-to-back three-pointers from McDonald with 13:54 on the clock gave Ball State a 54-38 edge over the Golden Flashes.
Kent State trimmed away at Ball State's lead in a last attempt to win the ball game to come within five 75-70 with nine seconds remaining but the Cardinals early lead in the start of the second half was to much for the Golden Flashes to overcome.
The Cardinals got on the board first after a layup from Maggert in the first half. Both teams would then continue to trade baskets up until the 11:01 mark. Gratton hit a layup to give Ball State back its lead. The Cardinals eventually built a five-point edge over Kent State after a three-pointer from McDonald with 9:51 remaining. Kent State crawled back to tie the game 29-29 with 5:20 on the clock.
Freshman forward Jade Barber hit a layup which sparked a 5-0 run for the Cardinals. Ball State would build its lead to (40-32) after McDonald's fourth three-pointer of the first period. The Cardinals entered halftime with a 40-34 lead over Kent State.
The Ball State University women's basketball team continues league action at home Saturday against Ohio in Worthen Arena for a 1 p.m. tipoff. The Cardinals will be taking part of Think Pink Weekend to promote cancer awareness.
