Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Butler
WBB Loses to Butler in Double Overtime
December 12, 2010 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State University women's basketball team (4-5) fell in double overtime 105-98 to in-state rival Butler (5-4) Sunday afternoon in Worthen Arena.
Three Cardinals scored in double figures with senior forward Emily Maggert leading the way with 21 points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Ty'Ronda Benning chipped in 18 points and teammate junior guard Megan Craft had a season high 16 points after going 5-of-5 from behind the arc.
The Cardinals came out of the gates strong in the second half, eventually building one of its biggest leads of the game 55-45 over Butler after back-to-back three pointers from freshman Jordan Huber and sophomore Mercedes Miller.
Ball State built its largest margin 14 points (63-49) after Maggert hit a pair of free throws with just over 10 minutes on the clock. The Bulldogs chipped away at BSU's cushion to come within seven (65-58) before freshman Craft hit her fourth trey of the day to put the Cardinals back up 71-60 at the 7:23 mark.
Butler turned up the defensive pressure causing the Cardinals to turn the ball over, the Bulldogs capitalized with a three pointer to make it a 76-73. Sophomore Mercedes Miller hit two crucial free throws to put Ball State back up by five 78-73 with 1:11 remaining. With just under a minute Butler answered with a three to make the score 79-78, Ball State led 81-78 but the Bulldogs hit a three with just 3.9 seconds to knot the game, 81-81. Benning attempted a last second three at the buzzer but after official review was waved off, sending the game into overtime.
In the first extra period, Ball State led 87-85 with under 11 seconds remaining, the Cardinals had control of the ball but an offensive foul was called allowing Butler to hit a last second layup to move the ball game into double overtime.
Butler controlled the second overtime knocking down a three to make it 94-89 with just 2:53 left, Ball State was unable to recover from the Bulldogs late five-point lead.
The Ball State women's basketball team heads to Cancun, Mexico to participate in the Caribbean Classic (Dec. 20-21) where the Cardinals will face Alabama Birmingham Dec. 20 at 3:30 p.m. (CT).
