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Whitney Ballinger (left) finishes with a career-high 48 points.
Whitney Ballinger (left) finishes with a career-high 48 points.
Posted by Chris Wells - Sat, Mar 20, 2010 - [ Women's Basketball ] - Viewed 691 times
JACKSON, Tenn. -- (Box Score) The Oklahoma City Stars overcame a 48-point performance from Campbellsville's (Ky.) Whitney Ballinger to advance to its 10th semifinal appearance with an 86-77 overtime victory in the 2010 NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship in Jackson, Tenn. Ballinger's 48 points ties her for fifth all-time on the single game scoring list in national championship history. She tied Miriam Walker of Claflin (S.C.), who scored 48 points versus Oklahoma City in 1988.

Oklahoma City jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead in the first half after a 3-point basket by Laura Duncan at the 17:47 mark. Campbellsville responded going on a 10-0 run over the next 3:56, to take a 12-7 lead. OCU answered with a mini run of its own, 9-1, over the next 2:54 to take a lead 16-13 lead. Both squads would trade baskets the rest of the way until Duncan drilled a three with 20 seconds left and Holly Hardin converted a Campbellsville turnover in to a lay-up as time expired to go in to the half with a 39-31 lead.

Campbellsville's Wendi Messer cut the Stars' lead to five after the break with her first three-point basket of the game, but the Starr Fairbanks responded with four straight points to push the Stars' lead back to nine. Duncan hit another three for the Stars after a field goal by CU's Courtney Danis to push the lead to 10 with 17:41 to play in regulation. OCU would stretch its lead to as many as 11 at the 12:36 mark. Messer knocked down a three for the Lady Tigers to start a 10-0 run to pull them within one point with 7:49 remaining. The two squads went back-and-forth down the stretch with both teams holding leads. The Stars' Donica Cosby hit a driving lay-up with two seconds remaining in regulation to knot the score at 70 and send the game in to overtime.

The Lady Tigers jumped out to a five-point lead in the overtime session on field goals by Megan Isaacs and Kristi Ensminger and a free-throw by Ballinger, but the Stars would go on a 16-2 run over the final 2:14 to come away with an 86-77 win. Chontaye Walter led the Stars in overtime, scoring seven of her 14 points in the extra period.

Oklahoma City scored 21 points off of 22 Campbellsville turnovers. The Stars hit 21-of-25 (0.840) at the charity stripe, while Campbellsville was just 13-of-24 (0.542).

Oklahoma City had all five starters score in double-figures. Fairbanks led the way with 17 points, while Holly Hardin recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Walter and Duncan posted 14 points each, while Cosby added 12.

Ballinger scored 48 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked 7 shots in the game. Messer was the only other player in double-figures with 14 points.

Ballinger's 48 points set a new career high, tied the Campbellsville single game scoring record and broke the school's single season scoring record. She tallied 813 points, 422 rebounds and 147 blocks on the season, all of which are school single season records.

Oklahoma City improves to 32-3 on the season, while Campbellsville finishes at 33-3.
 
Courtesy: NAIA
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