Danielle Gratton headed to NCAA tourney
Former Illini Danielle Gratton helped Ball State shock Bowling Green 55-51 Sunday in the title game of the Mid-American Conference tournament.
It's the first MAC title and NCAA tourney bid for the Cardinals (25-8). Bowling Green, the league's regular season champion, won 25 consecutive games earlier this season.
Gratton, named to the All-MAC Third Team last week, hit a three-pointer from the top of the key with 1:07 remaining.
"It definitely makes it sweeter," said Gratton, who had nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds in 27 minutes. "They only had one conference loss. They're a great team. It feels great to beat them."
Gratton averaged 12.3 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds for the Cardinals, under the guidance of first-year coach Kelly Packard.
A junior, Gratton played her first two seasons at Illinois before transferring to Ball State, which, at the time, employed former UI assistant Marsha Frese. But a coaching change at Ball State after last season led to Frese's departure.
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