Clutch Free-Throws Propel Ball State Past EMU, 74-73

Box score.

MUNCIE, Ind. – In a battle of the top squads in the Mid-American Conference West Division, the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team gave Ball State University all it could handle in a 74-73 setback Saturday afternoon here in front of a crowd of 4,711 in Worthen Arena. The Eagles led 73-72 with 3.9 seconds to play when BSU’s Julie DeMuth drove the lane and was fouled by Canea Williams. DeMuth made both clutch free-throws to put the Cardinals back on top and EMU had a shot for the win but Alyssa Pittman’s three-point try as time expired fell short.

With the win BSU improves to 21-5 (12-3 MAC) and captures the MAC West Division title outright while EMU falls to 14-12 (9-6 MAC). The victory also snaps EMU’s three-game winning streak in Muncie, Ind. dating back to Jan. 19, 2002.

Five players scored in double figures for Eastern Michigan led by freshman Alyssa Pittman with a team-best 16 points. Freshman Emily Hanley poured in 13 points and eight rebounds while Williams and junior Patrice McKinney posted 11 each. Freshman Kelly Watts rounded out the scoring with 10 points and six boards.

DeMuth finished with 18 points including 9-of-10 shooting from the charity stripe as the Cardinals placed five players in double-digits.

For the game EMU connected on 45.3 percent (29-of-64) of its shots while BSU made 50,0 percent (25-of-50) of its shots. Eastern controlled the glass 34 to 29 and from beyond the arc with 11 three-pointers. But Ball State was able to get to the free throw line 22 times leading to 19 points compared to just four points in eight attempts for the visitors.

Ball State opened the game on a 7-3 run holding Eastern without a field goal for more than two minutes until Pittman drained a long distance three pointer at the 16:30 mark to make it 7-6. A pair of treys by Tina Bolte pushed the margin to five points, 15-8, but an 8-0 run by the Eagles, that included consecutive threes by Pittman, gave EMU the 16-15 advantaged with 13:12 left.

A four-minute scoring drought promptly followed for the Eagles, allowing the Cardinals to retake the lead, 21-16, before a Watts layup ended the streak with 9:11 showing on the clock. The momentum was starting to swing in Eastern’s favor thanks a strong defensive effort and stellar play off the bench by Watts and junior Williams. The pair combined for 15 points over the period’s final nine minutes enabling the Eagles to take their biggest lead of the half at 35-30 with 5:44 left before the intermission.

However, BSU would respond closing the half on a 9-2 run to take the slight 39-37 edge heading into the lockerroom. For the period Ball State made 14-of-28 shots for a 50.0 percent clip while Eastern Michigan managed a 45.5 percent clip (15-of-33). EMU was able to control the glass, out-rebounding BSU 19 to 14, but the Eagles committed 10 turnovers to just six for the Cardinals. Corbin led all scorers with 10 points while Pittman keyed the Eagles with nine points on 3-of-7 shooting.

Following the intermission the two sides were pretty much equal with the Cardinals still holding the slim advantage at 48-44 with 15:59 to go. However, after being held scoreless in the first half, Sarah VanMetre was starting to find her stroke connecting on back-to-back shots keying a 9-4 run to once again gave Eastern the lead, 53-52, at the 12:01 mark. A Williams three made it 56-52 but four BSU straight points knotted the game.

The Green and White were able to get back on top, 64-61, via scores by McKinney but Ball State once again used a 4-0 run to retake the lead. Watts connected on a long-range three-pointer with 6:11 showing along with a Pittman free-throw toss made it 70-67 but a BSU toss cut the lead back to three, 70-68, with 4:49 left. Then the defense stepped up for both sides and neither team was able to get on the board again until DeMuth made both free throws with 1:34 left to tie the game at 70.

An EMU turnover gave the ball back to BSU, and the Cardinals made it count as Lisa Rusche hit a runner in the lane with 1:07 to give Ball State the 72-70 lead. With the pressure on, Pittman drilled a triple to push Eastern back into the drivers seat with 49 seconds left. Ball State had its chance to regain control but Corbin’s jumper was off and grabbed by Pittman. A pair of Porchia Green fouls sent Pittman to the line for the 1-and-1, but she was unable to convert on the front end, giving the ball back to BSU.

Following a time out, DeMuth drove the lane to the basket and Williams looked to have knocked the ball away to seal the EMU victory, but instead she was whistled for the foul sending DeMuth to the line for a pair with 3.9 seconds remaining. With the game in the balance, DeMuth sank both shots to give BSU the one-point edge, 74-73, and Pittman had one final heave towards the hoop but the shot was off giving the Cardinals the decision.

The Eagles close out the regular season Wednesday night, Feb. 28, in Mount Pleasant, Mich. versus instate rival Central Michigan University. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Rose Arena.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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