Women's Basketball Defeats Eastern Michigan 68-59

YPSILANTI, Mich. ? The Ball State University women's basketball team (19-8, 11-2 MAC) defeated Eastern Michigan (7-18, 3-10 MAC) 68-59 Tuesday night in the Convocation Center. The Cardinals have now won six straight over the Eagles.

Senior guard Porchia Green led the Cardinals in scoring with 18 points. Sophomore forward Emily Maggert managed 13 points and junior guard Audrey McDonald netted 11 to end the night. Defensively junior forward Danielle Gratton paced the team with 12 rebounds and added five assists.

Gratton opened the second half with two free throws to make it a 37-30 ball game. EMU finally scored at the 17:53 mark. Jarrett would hit a three-pointer off of an assist from McDonald helping Ball State build a 10-point cushion (43-33).

The Eagles would then go on a scoring spree to cut Ball State's lead to 45-42 at the 11:38 mark.

Ball State regained composer jumping ahead 49-43 with just under 10 minutes remaining after freshman forward Jade Barber hit a layup. But the Eagles would fight back to make it a 49-46 ball game with 8:40 on the clock.

Gratton and Maggert along with some free throws from Green managed to push the Cardinals ahead 60-50 at the 3:23 mark. In a last effort to win the game EMU hit two three-pointers and a layup to come within five but Ball State hit free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

It was a defensive battle in the first half after three lead changes and eight ties. Ball State finally broke away at the 3:51 mark after a three-pointer from Green making it a 27-24 ball game. Jarrett and MAC West Division Player of the Week knocked drew a foul with 48 seconds remaining to put the Cardinals up by four after knocking down both of her free throws. Green would seal the 35-30 halftime edge over the Eagles after driving to the basket for a layup with three seconds left.

Maggert led all scorers in the firs period after netting 11 points. She was 5-of-6 from the field with one three-pointer.

The Ball State University women's basketball team returns to Worthen Arena Saturday to take on Western Michigan for a 1 p.m. tipoff.

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Players Mentioned

Jade Barber

Danielle Gratton

Porchia Green