BOX SCORE

MUNCIE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team overcame 31 turnovers to open the 2012-13 season with a 54-45 victory over Ball State Friday evening at Worthen Arena in Muncie, Ind.  Redshirt sophomore Khristian Hart led all scorers with a career-high 19 points.
 
Hart knocked down five of UE’s 11 three-pointers to lead the Aces (1-0) and senior Meagan Collins finished in double figures with 17 points, hitting a trio of shots from behind the arc en route to a 5-for-9 shooting performance.  Fellow senior Samantha Heck led all players with 14 rebounds and a pair of blocks.
 
In the opening part of the first half both teams went on a pair of scoring runs, as Ball (0-1) State opened the contest with the first four points, before Evansville countered with six straight, capped by a free throw from Hart.
 
The Cardinals regained the lead at 9-6 on a Brandy Woody three that highlighted a five-point BSU run.  The Purple Aces were once again about to counter, scoring the next seven points to take a 12-9 lead at the 7:34 mark of the first half.
 
Ball State tied the score at 20-20 on a layup by Taylor Miller, but senior Chelsea Falkenstein nailed a three with 52 seconds remaining to give Evansville a 23-22 lead at the break.
 
Both squads got off to a slow start in the second half, as the first five possessions resulted in turnovers.  With the score tied at 25-25, Evansville went on a 12-2 run to open up 37-27 lead with 9:41 remaining on the clock.  Collins knocked down four free throws, while Falkenstein and Hart each hit a three to highlight the run. 
 
The Aces pushed their lead to 16 at 46-30 on a three by Collins at the 5:54 mark, but the Cardinals responded, forcing five UE turnovers over the next two and a half minutes to cut the margin to four at 46-42 with a 12-0 run.
 
A driving layup from sophomore Juliann Miller ended the Cardinals’ run and deep three from Collins with 1:21 remaining sealed the win for Evansville, giving the Aces a 51-43 advantage.
 
Nathalie Fontaine led BSU with 14 points and Katie Murphy pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.
 
UE shot 40 percent from the field, knocking down 16 of its 40 attempts and held Ball State to a 28.3 shooting percentage, including a 24 percent clip (6-for-25) in the second half.  The Aces also won the battle of the boards, grabbing 40 rebounds to the Cardinals’ 33.
 
Both teams struggled at the charity stripe, as Evansville hit just 11 of its 19 free throws (57.9%) and Ball State connected on just 12 of its 21 attempts from the line (57.1%)
 
The Aces will return to the hardwood Sunday, Nov. 11, when they take on Illinois at 2 p.m. from Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill.