Four Players Score In Double Figures In WBB's Win Over Akron

Saturday, January 14

MUNCIE, IND.

2:00 PM

Ball State University

11-6, 4-1MAC

University of Akron

7-9, 0-5MAC

AKRON

Ball State

Four Players Score In Double Figures In WBB's Win Over Akron

January 14, 2017 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Ball State vs. Akron Final Stats

MUNCIE, Ind. - Four Ball State women's basketball players scored in double figures to lift the Cardinals past Akron by a score of, 80-70, Saturday afternoon in Worthen Arena. With the win, Ball State improves to 11-6 overall and 4-1 in Mid-American Conference action while the Zips drop to 7-9 on the year and 0-5 in league play.

Senior guard Jill Morrison led the Cardinals with 16 points while senior center Renee Bennett had 15 in the Cardinals win. Sophomore Carmen Grande along with teammate senior guard Calyn Hosea each finished the game with 13 points apiece, while Grande also dished out 11 assists.

As a team, Ball State shot 50.8 percent (31-of-61) from the field, including 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from the 3-point line to remain undefeated in conference action at home this season.

The Cardinals have gotten off to a slow start offensively in the first quarter during MAC play this season and today's game was no different. The first period consisted of seven ties and nine lead changes against the Zips with Akron leading 20-17 heading into the second quarter of play.

It remained a close ball game up until the 7:02 mark of the second quarter, with the game tied 26-26, junior guard Frannie Frazier hit a jumper that sparked a 7-0 run for Ball State to put them up 33-26 with 5:47 left on the clock. Morrison also helped the Cardinals during the run with her hot shooting hand from behind the arc. She went 4-for-4 from the 3-point line in the second quarter to help Ball State take a 48-33 advantage over Akron at the half. As a team the Cardinals outscored Akron 31 to 13 in the second quarter and shot a staggering 65.6 percent from the floor.

Both teams started the second half rattling off seven points a piece, but Ball State still led by 15 (55-40) with 4:28 remaining in the third period. After that, Akron went on a 7-0 run to come within eight (55-47) with under a minute remaining. The Zips held the Cardinals scoreless for over five minutes before Grande finally snapped Akron's run with a layup with 52 seconds left.

The Cardinals began the fourth quarter utilizing their inside game, with Bennett scoring five of the Cardinals first seven points. Akron came to within seven on a couple of occasions but Monaco knocked down back-to-back baskets to put Ball State back up by 10 (69-59) with 3:47 remaining in the contest. The Zips came to within eight (75-67) with just over two minutes to play but that was as close as Akron would get the remainder of the game.

The Ball State women's basketball team remains at home in Mid-American Conference action Wednesday when it hosts Eastern Michigan for a 7 p.m. tipoff in Worthen Arena.