After having a 17-point lead earlier in the second half, the Ball State University women's basketball team found itself down 60-59 to Cleveland State University in the game's final minute.
Then with eight seconds left in the game, forward Emily Maggert scored with a game-winning layup, making the score 61-60 after she rebounded a missed 3-pointers by guard Porchia Green.
"Just knowing that you've been up and they came back and you can still pull away with a win, it's definitely a confidence builder," Maggert said.
The Cardinals improved their record to 2-1 for the season after defeating Cleveland State on Saturday in front of 293 people. Ball State beat Robert Morris University 85-81 on Friday.
Maggert led the team with 16 points against Cleveland State. She also had six rebounds.
Guard Audrey McDonald said the team didn't succumb to defeat because of its game time experience. McDonald scored 14 points and led the team with six assists.
McDonald broke a record for number of 3-pointers during the preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament. She shot 13, breaking the previous record of 12 3-pointers during Ball State's three WNIT games.
Coach Kelly Packard said her team can get a lead against an opponent, but the team's effort slackened in the second half.
"I can't even blame the run they put on us for fatigue," she said. "I think it was a mental breakdown."
In the last 10:50 of the Cleveland State game, Ball State was outscored 10-26.
Packard said it's frustrating to see her team execute plays and then choose to lessen on their effort.
"I told them I'm looking at the rest of our schedule for the rest of the year; there will not be a time when you can let up mentally," Packard said.
Although Packard said she doesn't want to diminish the fact that her team was pushed and her team responded well.
"I am proud they made some big plays at the very end," she said.
For future games, Packard said her team has to get more mentally tough. She said the team is talented, but it needs to be both talented and tough.
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