Ball State University Athletics
Cardinals Stay Unbeaten in MAC Play with 59-54 Win Over Eastern Michigan
January 11, 2020 | Women's Basketball
With the win, Ball State has extended its win streak to seven
MUNCIE, Ind. – Senior Jasmin Samz tallied eight points in the fourth quarter to help the Ball State women's basketball team outscore Eastern Michigan by 11 in the fourth quarter on the way to a 59-54 victory in Worthen Arena Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Cardinals move to 3-0 in Mid-American Conference action for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
Samz gave Ball State (11-4, 3-0 MAC) the lead for good with 1:11 remaining following her second old-fashioned three-point play of the quarter to make the score, 55-54. Eastern Michigan (7-7, 2-1) had three looks at the basket to take the lead on its ensuing possession but could not convert. Ball State got the ball back with 27.2 seconds left when Samz took a charge to wipe out an EMU basket.
.?@BSUCoachBrady? comments on how tough the Cardinals played today in their win over Eastern Michigan! pic.twitter.com/bCqQj05PZl
— Ball State WBB (@BallStateWBB) January 11, 2020
Ball State converted 4-of-6 free throws in the waning seconds to hold off the Eagles. Meanwhile, EMU had a turnover, a blocked shot and a missed shot on its final three possessions.
The Cardinals only made two field goals in the first quarter and found themselves trailing by as many as 11 points in the opening stanza, 18-7.
A 9-0 run in the middle of the third quarter featuring 3-pointers from Sidney Freeman and Samz, as well as a three-point play from Oshlynn Brown, propelled Ball State to its first lead of the day, 34-32. Eastern Michigan managed to regain a six-point lead late in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter before another 9-0 Cardinals spurt gave Ball State a 49-46 edge.
The score was tied three times and the lead switched hands four times in the final four minutes.
Both teams entered Saturday's game riding winning streaks. Ball State had won six in a row while Eastern Michigan was winners of five straight.
Samz and Freeman each scored 13 points to pace Ball State. Brown added 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds to record her eighth double-double of the year.
Areanna Combs led Eastern Michigan with 18 points and a personal-high 11 rebounds. Eastern Michigan was only 13-of-27 (48.1 percent) at the free throw line.
Ball State hits the road for a pair of games next week. First up is a trip to Central Michigan on Wednesday, Jan. 15. That game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and 102.9 FM/1340 AM beginning at 7 p.m.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State women's basketball team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWBB and @BSUCoachBrady.
