Ball State University Athletics
WBB Loses to UAB in First Game of Caribbean Classic
December 20, 2010 | Women's Basketball
RIVERIA MAYA, Mexico - The Ball State University women's basketball team (4-6) fell (61-56) to Alabama-Birmingham (7-3) Monday afternoon at the Triple Crown Sports Caribbean Classic.
Senior forward Emily Maggert recorded her 27th career double-double and fifth of the season after leading all scorers with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Freshman Jazmine Hitchens chipped in a season best nine points while teammates Megan Craft and Ty'Ronda Benning each had eight on the day. Maggert with her 18 point performance moved into sixth all-time on Ball State women's basketball all-time scoring list passing former Cardinal Char Thomsen, Maggert now has 1,424 career points.
With 14:38 left to play in the game UAB had a 39-28 edge over the Cardinals. Ball State would then come within six (39-33) after freshman forward Jazmine Hitchens knocked down two from the charity stripe. UAB continued to score on the other end, eventually building a 49-39 cushion with 5:47 left in the game. In a last second effort Ball State managed to come from behind to cut UAB's lead to 55-51 with 33 seconds to go in the contest but the Blazers strong play early at the start of the second period earned them the victory.
Ball State played a strong first half despite trailing UAB (27-23) at intermission. Freshman guard Brandy Woody scored the first two buckets of the game for the Cardinals to knot the game at 4-4 in the opening minutes of the first period. Down 19-10, BSU orchestrated a 7-0 run which was sparked by a three point basket from Craft. Craft's trey marked the sixth straight she had hit from behind the arc since Dec. 12 at home against Butler.
Maggert along with some help from teammate Suzanne Grossnickle made it a 21-19 ball game with less than four minutes remaining. Grossnickle's would score the last basket to end the half for the Cardinals. At the half, Ball State out rebounded UAB, 21-to-18, while forcing Alabama-Birmingham to commit seven turnovers.
The Ball State women's basketball team continues action at the Caribbean Classic when it faces Nevada Reno Tuesday at 1 p.m. (CT). Nevada Reno defeated Illinois State 87-78 in the earlier game today.
