Women’s Basketball Falls to Ball State

Box score.

MUNCIE, Ind. – In an early season battle of undefeated Mid-American Conference West Division foes, the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team came up short versus Ball State University, 71-64, Tuesday evening here at John E. Worthen Arena. The Eagles overcame a 17-point first half deficit to take a four-point edge, however the Cardinals used a late push to claim the hard-fought victory.

With the loss EMU drops to 8-7 overall and 2-1 in MAC play while BSU improves to 7-9 and 3-0 in the MAC. Ball State continued to be without its head coach, as Tracy Roller is still recovering from mononucleosis. Associate head coach Lisa McDonald filled in during her absence.

The Eagles were paced by junior guard Amanda Compton (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Huron) with a career-high 21 points, including seven three-pointers. The seven treys are the most by an Eagle since Alyssa Pittman (Elkhart, Ind.-Elkhart Memorial) made seven versus Massachusetts, Dec. 13, 2006. Sophomore Kelly Watts (Gary, Ind.-East Chicago) poured in 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds before fouling out late in the contest. Freshman guard Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth,Ohio-Wadsworth) also notched 15 points and nine caroms in 35 minutes of work.

Porchia Green turned in a game-high 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting to go along with 12 rebounds in 39 minutes of action. Julie DeMuth and Lisa Rusche both notched 12 points on the night.

For the game, the Eagles made more field goals (25), including eight threes, and turned the ball over just 10 times. However, Ball State controlled the glass, grabbing 46 rebounds and making 20-of-23 attempts from the free throw line. BSU also turned in 22 second-chance points and 34 points in the paint, compared to just nine and 22, respectively, for EMU.

The Eagles struggled out of the gate, missing their first 12 shots and turning the ball over five times, as the Cardinals raced out to an early 12-0 edge just over four minutes into the game. Schrock’s free throw at the 15:09 mark got EMU on the board to make it 18-1. Compton connected on a three-pointer with 12:29 showing on the clock to end the drought and was promptly followed up with a Schrock lay-up to make it 20-6.

The pace of the game was starting to pick up, as a 6-2 run by the Eagles forced the Cardinals to burn a timeout with 10:19 showing. Ball State, however, would respond to keep the margin in double figures. Thanks to the sharp shooting of Compton and Schrock, the Green and White were able to use a 15-4 run over the next 5:17 to make it 32-30 with 3:00 left in the half.

Ball State would use a 6-2 run to close the period and head into the locker room up 38-32. BSU's Green would lead all scorers with 13 points, while Compton paced the Eagles with 12. For the frame the Eagles shot just 34 percent (12-of-35) from the floor but managed a 52 percent (12-of-23) clip after missing on their initial 12 attempts. BSU was 46 percent (14-of-30) shooting for the stanza.

Much the way Eastern struggled to open the game, Ball State did the same to open the second half. Eastern raced off on a 9-0 run to begin the period and take its first lead of the game, 39-38, on a Watts' put-back at 17:49. The lead would grow to as many as three before Ball State responded to retake the advantage, 46-45, with 14:58 remaining.

In a back-and-fourth contest, EMU would hold a slim one-point edge, 51-50, on a Schrock lay-up at the 12:37 mark. However, the scoring would slow over the next seven minutes. BSU would reclaim the one-point edge, 60-59, on a Green jumper with 4:28 left.

The final minutes belonged to the Cardinals, as BSU closed the contest on a 13-5 run. The run began with a Rusche steal and fastbreak lay-up with 3:22 showing to make it 62-59. Senior center Colleen Russell (Windsor, Ontario-Brennan) hit a jumper in the lane to cut the margin but Green laid one off the glass to answer to score on the ensuing Cardinal possession.

Then with 1:12 left Watts picked up her fifth foul to send her to the bench for the remainder of the game. DeMuth would drain both free throws, but that was answered by another Compton three-pointer with :59 seconds showing to make it 66-64. Green would once again answer with a trey with :39 seconds to go, putting the home team up 69-64.

The Eagles had two shots on the next possession but could not get either to fall. EMU was forced to foul, with BSU’s Audrey McDonald sinking both attempts from the charity stripe with nine seconds remaining to seal the 71-64 decision.

Eastern Michigan continues its short road trip with a swing through Mount Pleasant, Mich. Saturday, Jan. 19, for a battle versus instate rival Central Michigan University. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at Rose Arena.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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