Ball State University
Marshall
WBB Falls To Marshall 60-58 In New Years Eve Game
December 31, 2011 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State women's basketball team (5-8) fell 60-58 in its last non-conference game of the season to Marshall (9-3) Saturday evening in Worthen Arena.
Sophomore forward Jazmin Hitchens led the Cardinals with a 17-point performance and led Ball State defensively with seven rebounds. Junior guard Shanee' Jackson also chipped in 12 points on the day.
Marshall scored the first basket at the start of the second half to knot the contest at 28-28, but the Cardinals quickly regained the lead back after a jumper in the paint from Hitchens at the 18:58 mark.
Ball State continued to control the majority of the half, eventually building a nine point (50-41) cushion over the Thundering Herd after back-to-back baskets from junior guard Mercedes Miller with 8:12 left to play, but Marshall answered back with a 10-0 run of its own to give the Thundering Herd a 51-50 edge at the four minute mark.
The Cardinals tied the game at 54-54 with 1:44 to play for the third tie for the game, but a 4-1 run by Marshall gave the Thundering Herd a 58-55 lead and the eventual victory.
In the first half, the Cardinals trailed until the 12:05 mark when sophomore forward Katie Murphy hit a jumper that sparked a 7-0 run for the Cardinals. Freshman guard Brittany Carter hit a three pointer at the 9:07 mark to give Ball State its biggest advantage of the half (17-9) over the Thundering Herd.
Marshall would come back to tie the game at 26-26 late in the half but Hitchens jumper with under a minute remaining earned Ball State the 28-26 lead at intermission.
The Ball State women's basketball team will open Mid-American Conference play at home Thursday against Eastern Michigan at 7 p.m. in Worthen Arena. To purchase tickets to the game, go to www.ballstatesports.com or call the ticket office at 1.888.BSU.TICKET.
