Dec. 30, 2010

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. - A 17-2 second-half run propelled Ball State to a 78-59 victory over Saint Louis Thursday night at Worthen Arena.

Ayriell Robinson and Lorreal Jones led the Billikens (6-8) with 11 points apiece, and Jones collected a game-high 13 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass. Janisha Gearlds had five steals and Jacy Bradley distributed four assists.

Ball State (5-7) got 26 points from Emily Maggert and 20 from Ty'ronda Benning. Maggert and Benning scored 21 and 18 points, respectively, in the second half as the Cardinals shot 62.1 percent from the field and outscored the Billikens 55-33 following intermission. Ebony Jackson netted 11 points, all in the first half, while Brandy Woody registered six assists and three steals.

Ball State scored the first seven points of the second half to turn a 26-23 deficit into a 30-26 lead. Saint Louis recovered to tie the score at 33 on Bradley's jumper in the lane, at 36 on Robinson's traditional three-point play and at 38 on Robinson's driving layup.

Maggert's 3-pointer on BSU's next possession ignited the Ball State run. Mallory Eggert drew the Billikens to within two points with a free throw, but Megan Craft's trey made it a five-point Cardinal advantage. SLU then went scoreless on eight consecutive possessions while the hosts padded the margin.

The Billikens forced four early turnovers and built a 7-2 lead on Eggert's offensive rebound and layup, a Jones free throw and two Gearlds field goals. Ball State scored the next seven points to go on top 9-7, but SLU recovered with a Lauren Woods free throw and Robinson's pull-up jumper to nudge ahead 10-9.

Following a Maggert 3-pointer that gave the Cardinals a 12-10 edge, Jones hit a mid-range jumper to tie it at 12. Long droughts for both teams ensued before BSU claimed its final lead of the half on Jazmin Hitchens' jumper.

The Bills then reeled off a 10-3 run consisting of two Kathryn Hester layups, a Halee Castleman layup, two Bradley free throws and Jones' offensive rebound and put-back, and it was 22-17 Saint Louis with 2:00 to play. Ball State scored on its final three possessions of the half, while SLU tallied on two of its final three touches - runners by Bradley and Gearlds - to leave the Billikens in front 26-23 at the break.

The Billikens play their final non-conference game of the season Sunday, Jan. 2, at Tennessee Tech. Game time is 2 p.m.