Becki Hits Game Winner to Seal Fourth Quarter Comeback Win Over SEC Foe Georgia

Thursday, December 21

Tampa, Fla.

12 pm

Ball State University

9-2,0-0MAC

University of Georgia (Sun Coast Challenge)

8-4,0-0SEC

Georgia

Ball St.

Becki Hits Game Winner to Seal Fourth Quarter Comeback Win Over SEC Foe Georgia

December 21, 2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Cardinals Crowned Sun Coast Challenge Champions

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Junior Ally Becki's last second shot rattled in to give the Cardinals the 52-51 fourth quarter comeback victory over SEC powerhouse Georgia Thursday afternoon in the PHSC West Campus.

Ball State (9-2) trailed by one to Georgia (8-4) with 15 seconds remaining but got the ball back after the Bulldogs' Asia Avenger missed two free throws. Becki then made the defensive play with the rebound which gave the Cardinals possession, and the rest is history. So much so, that it was the first time a Mid-American Conference women's basketball program has defeated the Bulldogs in 40 years.

Ball State head coach Brady Sallee has now defeated seven Power 5 conference teams during his tenure with the Cardinals — Minnesota (54-51, 2012-13), Iowa (77-72, 2015-16), Vanderbilt (88-79, 2017-18), Purdue (66-60, 2017-18), Pitt (68-66, 2022-23), Pitt (73-62, 2023-24) and Georgia (52-51, 2023-24).

Both teams started the contest off hot defensively in the sunshine state resulting in four ties early in the first six minutes of action. The game was knotted 9-9 after Madelyn Bischoff nailed one from behind the arc. The 9-9 score lasted for over three minutes until the Cardinals ran into some foul trouble just over the one-minute mark. The Bulldogs closed out the first frame to take a 14-9 edge over the Cardinals.

One of the nation's best behind the arc continued to prove those stats justified as Bischoff opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer. Shortly after, Becki hit a layup to tie the game for the fifth time, 14-14. The majority of the second quarter the two squads went neck-and-neck. Georgia began to pull away at the midway point to close out the first half with a 10-point (32-22) advantage over Ball State at intermission.

After the break, the Bulldogs led throughout the third period, but the Cardinals didn't give up and were resilient to make a comeback. Becki's jump shot sparked a 7-2 run for Ball State which was capped off by another layup from Becki at the 2:11 mark to make it a one possession ball game (39-37). Both the Cardinals and the Bulldogs ramped up their defenses and the Bulldogs would score as time was winding down to take a slight four-point edge (41-37) before the final 10 minutes of play.

The final frame came down to the wire with smart defensive plays and some crucial baskets to help seal the Cardinals victory.

For the game, Becki led with a 16-point performance while Bischoff finished the day with 11. Rounding out the double-figure scoring for the Cardinals was Annie Rouch after scoring 10.

The Ball State women's basketball team returns home Dec. 30 to wrap up non-conference action against Oakland City at 3 pm ET in Worthen Arena.