Dec. 28, 2004

Final Stats

Muncie, Ind. - Despite a game-high 24 points by Mia Johnson, Ball State posted a 75-60 victory over the Saint Louis Billikens on Tuesday evening in Muncie, Ind. The Cardinals closed the game with an 11-4 run to take control of a tightly-contested tilt.

Mia Johnson sank a 3-pointer on the first possession of the game and the Billikens took a 7-2 lead four minutes into the game. The Billikens stretched the advantage to 17-9 when Rachel Diener sank back-to-back 3-pointers. The Bills kept up their hot-shooting from the field and hit nine of their first 15 shots (60 percent). Ball State used a 10-1 run and took its first lead of the game on Becca Bajorek's putback for a 26-25 lead. BSU extended the advantage to 28-25, but Johnson sank a deep trey from the left wing to tie the game at 28-28 with 5:18 to play in the half. The Cardinals received four points from Erica Cotton for a 32-28 lead, but the Bills closed to 34-33 at halftime as Johnson hit three free throws in the final minute.

Ball State started the second half with a 5-0 run to build a 39-33 margin. Marquita McFarland scored for SLU to end the Ball State run, but the Cardinals rebuilt the lead to 43-35. Hayley Leake hit a 3-pointer and followed with a layup as the Billikens closed to 46-40. BSU took its biggest lead at 51-41, but the Billikens answered with a 10-2 run to climb to 53-51 with 8:32 remaining. Johnson scored five points during the run and hit her fourth trey of the game. Ball State scored six unanswered points for a 59-51 lead with 6:37 to play. The Billikens got as close as 62-56 with just over four minutes left to play, but the Cardinals scored six of the next eight points to rebuild a 10-point lead with two minutes remaining. BSU hit five free throws down the stretch to hold off the Billikens.

Mia Johnson led the Billikens with 24 points, the fourth-straight game she has scored at least 20 points, but was the only SLU player in double figures. Marquita McFarland chipped in 13 points, while Heather King grabbed 13 rebounds. Becca Bajorek led the Cards with 15 points and 12 boards. The Billikens fall to 1-10 on the season and lost their eight straight game. The Cardinals improve to 4-6.