Jarrett's Career High Leads WBB to Win at CMU

Sunday, February 22

Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

2 p.m.

Ball State University

Central Michigan

February 22, 2009 | Women's Basketball

By: Ball State Athletics

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. ? The Ball State University women's basketball team (18-8, 10-2 MAC) defeated Central Michigan (14-12, 6-6 MAC) 71-67 Sunday afternoon in Rose Arena.

Senior guard Kiley Jarrett in a career-high performance led Ball State with 21-points. Jarrett was 7-of-12 from the field which included five three-pointers. Senior guard Porchia Green earned another double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Green also added five assists. Junior forward Danielle Gratton chipped in 13 points while junior guard Audrey McDonald netted 10.

CMU regained the lead immediately to open the second half. Much like the first half it was a seesaw match. The game was tied 50-50 with 11:49 to play in the game. Jarrett tied her career-high 19-points after knocking down two free throws.

The Chippewas would continue to play strong defense causing the Cardinals to turn the ball over. The Chippewas went up 60-53 with 8:11 on the clock. Ball State could not over come the late second half deficit. The Cardinals regained the lead 68-67 with 25 seconds left after Gratton hit both her free throws.

Jarrett would then make a great defensive play after stealing the ball and making a layup to put the Cardinals up 70-67. CMU sent McDonald to the line to seal the victory for BSU.

Central Michigan rattled off six straight points in the opening minutes of the first half. Jarrett finally got the Cardinals on the board after a long range jump shot making it a 6-2 ball game. At the 16:53 mark Gratton hit a three-pointer to bring Ball State within one.

Turnovers plagued the Cardinals in the start of the first half allowing CMU to take a seven-point edge (20-13) over Ball State with 9:49 to play.

Jarrett hit a three-pointer at the 9:28 mark which sparked a 5-0 run for the Cardinals closing the gap to 20-18.

The Cardinals continued to trail the majority of the half. Ball State would tied the game at 29-29 with 5:21 remaining after trailing 29-21. McDonald hit back-to-back three-pointers while Green forced a turnover and then scored on a fast break. The game was tied again 33-33 after sophomore forward Emily Maggert knocked down two free throws with 2:58 on the clock.

Jarrett who scored 17 points in the first half hit back-to-back three pointers to give the

Cardinals a 39-37 lead with under a minute to play. The Chippewas hit a layup to tie the game 39-39 to end the half.

The Ball State women's basketball team travels to Eastern Michigan Tuesday for a 7 p.m. tipoff in the Convocation Center.