Women?s Hoops Earns First-Round Bye In MAC Tournament

Saturday, February 28

Muncie, Ind.

1 p.m.

Ball State University

Western Michigan

Women?s Basketball Advances To Semifinals Of MAC Tournament

Women?s Hoops Earns First-Round Bye In MAC Tournament

February 28, 2009 | Women's Basketball

By: Ball State Athletics

MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State University women's basketball team (20-8, 12-2 MAC) defeated Western Michigan (7-20, 3-11 MAC) Saturday afternoon in Worthen Arena. With the win the Cardinals have earned a first-round bye to the Mid-American Conference Tournament, March 12-15.

Head Coach Kelly Packard became only the second coach in the women's basketball program to win 20 games in her debut season. The last coach to accomplish that feat was Tracy Roller in 2001-02.

Junior forward Danielle Gratton led all scorers with 18 points. Junior guard Audrey McDonald had 15 points while senior guard Porchia Green turned in yet another all-around stunning performance with 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Sophomore forward Emily Maggert who did not score in the first half chipped in 11 points.

Maggert scored her first two baskets on the day after opening the second half with a layup and then hit a three-pointer. Senior guard Kiley Jarrett and McDonald would both hit three-pointers only to have freshman Suzanne Grossnickle hit a layup which was followed by a Green jumper building a 47-39 cushion for Ball State with 13:58 left in the game.

With just under 12 minutes to play, Gratton hit a jumper to give the Cardinals their biggest lead of the contest, 52-42.

WMU chipped away at Ball State's 10-point lead making it 55-49 with 8:25 on the clock but McDonald knocked down a three-pointer then went the length of the court after pulling down a WMU rebound to hit a layup putting the Cardinals back up 60-49.

McDonald and Green hit back-to-back three-pointers making the score 74-59 with under two minutes to play. The Cardinals locked up the win with free throws from McDonald and Grossnickle along with a layup from Maggert.

Green drove to the basket for the first two points of the game. The Cardinals played strong defensively against the Broncos in the opening minutes not letting WMU score until the 15:22 mark.

Ball State led 10-5 with 13:49 remaining in the first half after Gratton hit a three-pointer then she knocked down two free throws.

Green was found wide open from behind the arc and gave Ball State an 18-11 edge over the Broncos with 8:40 remaining in the half.

Sophomore Shannon Klei hit back-to-back three-pointers with 5:28 on the clock to surge the Cardinals ahead of the Broncos 26-18.

Ball State led by eight 28-20 with 4:53 left to go in the first period. WMU scored five unanswered points to make it a 28-25 ball game. The Broncos came within one 32-31 but Ball State held on to its lead at the half.

The Ball State University women's basketball team will host Northern Illinois Wednesday for senior night in Worthen Arena with a 7 p.m. tipoff. The Cardinals will say good-bye to seniors Porchia Green, Kiley Jarrett and Dana Moorman.