WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Ball State shocks visiting Kent State

Freshman Hitchens records first career double-double in win

On paper, Ball State was supposed to lose against Kent State Saturday afternoon.

Kent State came into the game with the best record in the Mid-American Conference and was stacked with experience with five seniors in its starting lineup. Ball State was 7-11 and  struggling collectively as a team.

Instead, Ball State pulled off a 69-65 victory, its second consecutive victory over a team ranked in the Mid-Major Top 25 poll.

"Oh, the confidence of this place, it's unreal," coach Kelly Packard said. "I believe [Kent State] started five seniors. Just polished, experienced, physical and understand each other. I'm really, really proud."

Packard said she told her team that a any other team with a 7-11 record would have fractured at this point in the season.

For the first ten minutes of the game, both teams battled back and forth as neither could take a lead larger than five points. 

Kent State's senior guard Jamilah Humes scored nine of her team's first 16 points in the first half.

With four minutes remaining in the half, the Golden Flashes pushed to a 12-point lead. The Cardinals countered a 13-2 scoring run to trail 27-28 at halftime.

As a team, Ball State shot 27 percent from the field but shot a perfect 10 for 10 from the foul line.

Ball State's momentum carried over in the second half, taking the lead two minutes into the second half. The Cardinals biggest lead reached 10 points after a fastbreak lay up by senior guard Ty'ronda Benning.

In the overtime period, Benning hit two 3-pointers that put the game out of reach for Kent State. Benning finished the game with 18 points.

"I kinda get the feel for myself," Benning said. "My teammates look for me to do things like that. If they want me to do that, then I might as well do it."

Freshman guard Jazmin Hitchens recorded her first career double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

Hitchens said her improved play has come from her increase in confidence.

Senior Emily Maggert led Ball State will 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds

The second straight win against a MAC division leader puts the Cardinals at 3-3 in the MAC West Division.

Packard said her team was able to pull off the win because of how close the team is.

"We have unity," Packard said "You don't go into a game like this against an experienced veteran team without unity and do something really, really special. You watched them do something really, really special."

 


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