Muncie, Ind. / Worthen Arena (November 21, 2008)?The Robert Morris University women's basketball team fell to 0-2 on the season with an 85-81 loss at Ball State Friday night in the consolation bracket of the Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament. The Colonials had all five starters in double-digits but could not overcome 55.3 percent (26-47) shooting by the Cardinals who watch their record improve to 1-1 on the season.
Senior Grace Williams (Baxley, Ga. / Appling County (Frank Phillips)) and Monet Johnson (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Grand Street Campus (Monroe College)) each recorded their first career double-doubles. Grace Williams had 10 points, five-of-five from the field, and had 10 rebounds setting career highs for both categories. Johnson had 16 points and finished with 11 rebounds.
Junior guard Monica Jones (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Woodland Hills (Howard College)) tallied a career-best 20 points, going 9-of-18 from the field, and finishing just shy of her first double-double pulling down eight rebounds. Senior guard Kendra Williams (Bronx, N.Y. / Mount St. Ursula) also set a career high, finishing with 18 points. Senior guard Angela Pace (Westchester, N.Y. / Woodlands (Monroe College)) added 13 points.
Robert Morris struggled early, hitting just one of their first 12 shots and committing seven early turnovers as Ball State took 16-4 lead 11:28 into the game.
Kendra Williams sparked a 23-11 run over 4:55 from 10:54 to 5:59. Jones hit a three-pointer before Kendra Williams hit three consecutive trifectas to cut the lead to 24-18. Jones hit another trey before Latavia Vails (Odenton, Md. / Odenton (CC of Rhode Island)) buried a jumper and Monet Johnson hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 27-27.
The Cardinals answered with seven straight points. Suzanne Grossnickle hit a layup followed by a Audrey McDonald three-pointer and a Porchia Green fast break layup. Ball State carried the lead, 42-34, into the break.
Ball State stretched the lead to 10 points early in the second half and held a 52-43 lead with 15:54 left in the second half. Jones hit a jumper and Johnson converted on a three-point play to cut the lead to the lead to four points. Porchia Green stretched the lead back to six points a pair of Jones buckets made the score 54-52 with 13:41 left.
After a Cardinals turnover, RMU missed three chances to tie or take the lead on the next possession. A Danielle Gratton three-pointer on the other end put Ball State back on top by two possessions.
Trailing 83-74 with 1:25 left, Kendra Williams hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to six. A Ball State turnover on the defensive end turned into a Johnson lay-up to cut the lead to four points. Pace got a steal off the press after the in-bounds play and her layup cut the lead to 83-81 with 36 seconds left. The Cardinals had one last answer, however, and a layup by Emily Maggert with 11 seconds left capped the scoring at 85-81.
McDonald finished with 25 points, going 7-for-11 from three point range and 4-4 from the charity stripe. Forwards Maggert and Gratton had 19 and 18 points, combining to go 12-of-20 from the field.
Robert Morris shot 39.7 percent (31-78) from the field and held a 38-34 advantage on the boards, including 22 offensive rebounds. The Cardinals hit at a 55.3 percent (26-47) clip and went 10-of-21 from three-point range. They converted on 23-of-30 free throws while RMU made good on 11-of-14.
RMU will take on Illinois State at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, November 22, in its final game as part of the Preseason WNIT.
