Muncie, ID – Contributed – Arkansas State (0-1) chased Ball State (1-0) throughout the game but was unable to match the Cardinals in the season opener Monday night at Worthen Arena.
Crislyn Rose totaled 28 points with 10 from the free throw line, passing out seven assists throughout 33 minutes of playing time, with Monica Marsh landing a trio of threes on the way to 15 total points.
34 (24-of-70) percent from the field; A-State finished 7-of-37 from deep (19 percent) and pulled in 38 rebounds to Ball State’s 51. The Cardinals shot 44 percent (27-of-61), landing 5-of-19 from three. Ball State made 25 of their 36 free throws, with A-State hitting 19 out of 30.
| ADD US ON GOOGLE NEWS: Click here to see more local news from Jonesboro Right Now
A fastbreak layup off a turnover was the first points scored for the Red Wolves’ 2026-27 season, put in by senior transfer Jermesha Frierson. Ball State answered with 7 straight points before Rose landed a turnaround jumper. Back-to-back threes from Amina Gray and Jasmine Jordan gave the Red Wolves a 12-11 lead, but the first half concluded with a home lead, 18-17.
A-State hit the charity stripe early, reaching bonus just three and a half minutes into the second quarter, and went 6-11 at the free throw line. A-State was unable to find more than a four-point cushion, and the Cardinals scored eight straight to flip the four-point lead into a four-point deficit, 32-36 at half.
A-State evened the score at 36 to open the second half, but Ball State opened back up the home lead with seven in a row. BSU pulled away by as much as 12, but a Rose triple and Gray layup kept the Red Wolves within range. A-State entered the fourth quarter down eight.
A pair of early threes from Marsh in the final quarter, as well as a layup from both her and Audreonia Benson made it a two-point game with just under seven minutes to go, but Ball State was able to make it to the free throw line and keep their distance, expanding the home lead to 10, with a final score of 74-84.
The Red Wolves continue their road swing to open the season with a trip to Fort Myers, FL in a game against Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1 p.m.
| DAILY BRIEF: Sign up for the Jonesboro Right Now Daily Brief Newsletter
