Ball State University
22-10
Saint Louis
26-7
WBB Ends WNIT Run With 59-55 Loss At Saint Louis
March 22, 2016 | Women's Basketball
SAINT LOUIS, Mo. - The Ball State women's basketball team (22-10) ended its run in the Women's National Invitation Tournament after suffering a close 59-55 loss at Saint Louis (26-7) Monday night in Chaifetz Arena.
The Cardinals WNIT appearance marked their fourth straight and seventh overall. Ball State head women's basketball coach Brady Sallee, who is in his fourth season at Ball State, became the onlyhead coach in program history to have four consecutive winning seasons -- 17-16 (2012-13), 18-17, (2013-14), 17-12 (2014-15) and 22-10 (2015-16).
Ball State pulled off the, 77-72, upset over Big Ten foe Iowa last Thursday night in Carver-Hawkeye Arena to advance to the second round of the WNIT. It was the first time the Cardinals had competed in the second round of the WNIT since 2012-13.
For the game, junior forward Moriah Monaco led the way with 21 points which included five 3-pointers and pulled down seven rebounds. Senior forward Nathalie Fontaine, Ball State's all-time leading scorer, had 14 points and nine rebounds. Fontaine ends her career with 2,166 points and 985 rebounds which is good for third all-time.
The game was close throughout and featured five ties and 17 lead changes. Monaco put the Cardinals ahead by six (35-29) with 1:01 remaining in the third quarter, when she netted her third 3-pointer of the ball game.
However, the Billikens responded quickly with a 7-0 run after four straight points from Jackie Kemph, who led all players with 26 points, to help Saint Louis regain the 37-36 lead heading into the last quarter.
Both teams traded baskets in the fourth quarter, Monaco hit her fifth 3-pointer with 1:37 left in the contest to give Ball State the 53-52 advantage over Saint Louis. Kemph again came to the rescue for the Billikens, hitting a layup and knocking down two from the charity stripe to put Saint Louis back up 57-53.
With 16 seconds left, Fontaine was sent to the line in the Cardinals ensuing possession, she would hit both free throws to make it a two-point ball game. Ball State had the opportunity to tie the game after Frannie Frazier stole the Billikens inbound pass but Frazier missed the layup. Saint Louis got the loose ball forcing Ball State to foul Kemph with five seconds left. She would then hit both free throws to secure the win for the Saint Louis.
In the first half, Ball State controlled the game for 13:19 and led by as many as six with 7:06 remaining in the second quarter but Saint Louis took a 23-22 lead over the Cardinals at intermission.
