Box Score
MUNCIE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team suffered its first loss of the season Saturday night at Worthen Arena, falling, 61-58, to Ball State. The Aces dropped to 2-1 on the year, while the Cardinals improved to 2-2.
Missed free throws throughout the night proved to be detrimental, as the Aces shot just 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from the line.
In the first half, the Aces held the lead for nearly the first eight minutes of play, jumping out to a 4-0 lead, forcing three consecutive turnovers, and taking advantage on the other end with layups by Heck and sophomore Megan Collins.
The Cardinals tied the game at 13-13 on Jazmin Hitchens’ fifteen foot jumper at 12:08. However, the Aces went on an 8-0 run, regaining the lead on Blair’s two free throws, a layup by Heck,
Miranda Liles’ first career basket, and a
Taylor Ware’s first field goal of the season, giving the Aces the largest lead of the half, 21-13, with 8:46 remaining.
However, Ball State went on a 6-0 run of their own, and tied the game again at 23-23 on Emily Maggert’s two free throws on a one-and-one at 4:53. Mercedes Miller’s put-back gave the Cardinals the lead, 27-25, but UE responded with a layup by Blair and three pointer by Lewis to regain the lead, 30-29, heading into halftime. Evansville played most of the first half without
Chelsea Falkenstein, the Aces’ leading scorer through two games, due to early foul trouble.
The second half was a physical back-and-forth battle with five lead changes and four tied scores.
Lewis stretched the Aces lead to 47-43, draining both her free throws, but the Cardinals answered back immediately tying it back up at 47-47. Falkenstein’s basket and
Stephanie Bamberger’s foul shot as a result of Suzanne Grossnickle’s fifth foul with 6:16 remaining gave the Aces a 40-47 advantage.
Ball State took the lead, 53-51, at the four minute mark on Ty’Ronda Benning’s layup and made it 57-51 before Blair knocked down a three with 2:56 on the clock to cut the deficit to three.
With 1:06 left and down 59-55, Bamberger took a charge to give the Aces control of the ball. UE was unable to convert and was forced to foul intentionally in the last 45 seconds.
Benning missed the first end of her one-and-one, and Blair took advantage completing a three-point play with a layup and free throw to put the Aces within one (59-58) with 37 seconds on the clock.
At the line again, Benning made both her free throws to give the Cardinals a three-point cushion with 15.4 seconds left. Three point attempts by
Staci Gillum and Bamberger in the Aces’ final possession would not fall, giving the UE its first loss of the season.
Maggert (11 pts), Grossnickle (11 pts), and Benning (10 pts) all reached double figures to lead Ball State.
The Aces will compete in the Omni Hotels Classic in Boulder, Colorado next Friday and Saturday. UE will play Colorado on Friday at 8:30 CST and either Loyola or Eastern Washington on Saturday.
