Shanee’ Jackson came to the free-throw line for a pair of shots with 5.6 seconds remaining in the game and Ball State down two points.
Jackson, a career 60 percent free-throw shooter heading into the game, shot the first one. It bounced around the rim as everybody in Worthen Arena held their breath before it fell through.
The senior sank the second attempt to ensuring an 8-point comeback with just 1:25 to play to send the game to overtime for the Cardinals.
Ball State beat Detroit in overtime Wednesday night 73-64.
After the game, Jackson said the only thing going through her mind was just “make them so we can win this game.”
In overtime, Ball State held Detroit to just 1-of-8 from the field while the Cardinals made 9-of-12 free throws in the extra period.
Junior point guard Brandy Woody scored six points in overtime. She finished with 17, tying her career high.
Wednesday’s win wasn’t without sacrifices for Ball State. Ten minutes into the first half, junior Katie Murphy fell down at half court, writhing and rolling on the floor, while the rest of her team was playing defense 15 feet away.
Murphy somehow stood up and hobbled over to her assignment on defense. She was in visible pain as she watched Detroit pass the ball around. Murphy reached out and got a hand on the ball, recording a steal before making her way to the sidelines and back to the bench.
“I have a good group,” Ball State coach Brady Sallee said. “There are only seven, but they’re playing their tails off right now. It’s not always perfect, and it’s not always the way I’d like or the way they’d like, but they’re playing their hearts out … It’s just who we are right now.”
Sallee said he didn’t know the severity of her injury, or her status for Saturday’s game.
“I just know that she couldn’t play,” Sallee said. “I just had to coach the six that could.”
He had a coaching job in front of him later in the game, as Ball State was down eight with 1:25 left.
At that point, the Cardinals went on an 8-0 run to bring the game to overtime.
Freshman Nathalie Fontaine hit a layup and got the and-one. She made the free throw to bring the lead down to five.
Brittany Carter then hit a three-pointer from the right side, her fourth of the game to ignite the crowd and her team.
Carter’s four three-pointers set a new season-high for her and tied her career high in that category.
She shot 50 percent from downtown Wednesday, her best three-point percentage since Nov. 13.
After the game, Carter downplayed her early season troubles.
“I wasn’t discouraged,” she said. “I had a little slump. Not a big deal.”
However, Carter’s shooting was a big boost for Ball State against Detroit. She forced the defense to spread out to pay attention to her on the outside, leading to more points for Fontaine and Jackson inside.
“I think clearly you can see the pressure she can put on the defense,” Sallee said of his sophomore guard. “That was big.”
But it was Jackson who’s scoring and hustle helped the Cardinals late in regulation and in overtime.
“This one fighting with everybody to get every ball, she just wasn’t going to be denied,” Sallee said, gesturing to Jackson.
Sallee brought up one play in particular that showcased her effort Wednesday night.
“Think about the big play, where [Detroit Mercy] had the rebound,” Sallee said. “Nathalie had missed a shot and it’s fumbling around and she dives in on it. They fumble it off their knee and we get it back. Plays like that we made, where on the road, we didn’t.”
In addition to the 50-50 plays that Jackson brought to the team Wednesday, she also set new career highs in points and steals, and tied her career high for rebounds.
“As a coach, you’re excited to see seniors do what she did tonight,” Sallee said. “That’s what keeps me coming back to work every day.”
Jackson scored 18 points Wednesday night.
Just two more points than her previous career high.
Just two free throws to keep her team alive with 5.6 seconds left.
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