Box Score | Postgame Quotes | Postgame Notes | Michelle Clark-Heard Press Conference Video | Kendall Noble and Alexis Govan Press Conference Video
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - WKU used a big early run to roll over Ball State on Sunday afternoon in E.A. Diddle Arena, posting an 84-59 victory to claim their 10th win of the season.
WKU (10-2) secured 10 wins before Christmas Day for just the second time in program history and reached the 10 win mark before New Year's Day for just the sixth time in program history, including the second in three seasons.
Senior Alexis Govan had a game-high 21 points to lead the Lady Toppers, hitting 8-of-9 shots in the contest. Senior Chastity Gooch had 14 points while redshirt sophomore Kendall Noble added 13 points and nine rebounds and freshman Tashia Brown had 13 points.
After the teams exchanged baskets and the lead early, WKU used a 28-4 run to expand a 9-7 lead to 32-9. During the span, WKU held the Cardinals without a field goal for 8:17 and without a point for just over six minutes during an 18-0 part of the run.
The Lady Topper run was in large part due to strong three-point shooting as WKU hit six three pointers in the opening minutes and seven in the first half. WKU's seven first half three-point field goals were more than it had hit in the entire game in nine of the first 11 games of the season.
Ball State (4-6) shot just 36.7 percent for the game and allowed WKU to post a 57.4 percent clip from the field. The Lady Toppers had 20 assists on 31 made field goals.
WKU returns to the court on Monday, Dec. 29 for the 6:00 p.m. CT tipoff as WKU travels to Nashville to take on Belmont. Fans can join the Lady Toppers in Nashville as they take on Belmont on a fan bus sponsored by the team. For $40 per person, fans will receive round-trip transportation to Nashville and a game ticket to see the Lady Toppers in action against the Bruins. The bus will depart at 3:30 p.m. CT with registered fans asked to arrive at 3:00 p.m. CT at WKU's South Campus near the WKU Parking and Transportation office and WKU intramural fields. Fans can contact the WKU Lady Topper Basketball office at 270-745-2133 and speak to Peggy Fishback to signup or by emailing her at peggy.fishback@wku.edu. Registrations can be processed via credit card.
The Lady Toppers follow their trip to Nashville with three road games to begin play in their inaugural season in Conference USA, beginning in Huntington, W. Va., against Marshall on Jan. 4. WKU also plays at Charlotte on Jan. 8 and Old Dominion on Jan. 10 before returning home on Jan. 15 against Florida Atlantic for the annual Spread the Red Education Game at 11:00 a.m. CT.
Season tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at WKUSports.com or by calling the WKU Ticket Office at 1-800-5-BIG RED or 745-5222 locally.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE LADY TOPPERS: For complete information on Lady Topper Basketball, visit www.wkusports.com, follow the program on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball, follow the program on Instagram via "LadyTopperHoops" or follow the program on Twitter via @LadyTopperHoops.
