Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
8-8, 4-1MAC
Buffalo
9-7, 2-3MAC
WBB Suffers First MAC Loss At Buffalo Saturday
January 17, 2015 | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The Ball State women's basketball team suffered its first Mid-American Conference loss of the season when it fell 53-43 to Buffalo Saturday afternoon in Alumni Arena.
With the loss, the Cardinals fall to 8-8 overall and 4-1 in league action while Buffalo improves to 9-7 overall and 2-3 in MAC action.
Nathalie Fontaine led the Cardinals with 10 points and a career-best 15 rebounds. With the 15 rebound performance Fontaine moves to 16th all-time in front of former Cardinal Gena Rusch (1988-91) with 544 career rebounds. The double-double is the fourth of the season for Fontaine and 13th of her career.
Ball State opened the second half with a quick layup from Frannie Frazier to pull ahead by four (32-28) with not even 10 seconds shaved off the clock. After that, Buffalo would take over the remainder of the contest orchestrating a 20-7 run over the next 18 minutes of play to go up 48-39 with only 2:34 remaining in the contest.
The Cardinals came to within six (49-43) after Shelbie Justice made both free throws with under a minute left to play but Buffalo would go back up by 10 for the victory.
Ball State was plagued by fouls (24) and turnovers (18). Buffalo capitalized off of its 27 offensive rebounds, scoring 15 points off of second chance points.
Both teams started slow offensively in the first half with Buffalo leading 7-2 at the 16:23 mark. Ball State answered with back-to-back baskets from Moriah Monaco to knot the game at 7-7 with 14:38 on the clock. After that, both teams traded baskets Jill Morrison knocked down a three point basket to give Ball State a 28-26 edge over Buffalo.
The Bulls answered with a layup from Kristen Sharkey to make it 28-28 for the sixth tie of the contest. Calyn Hosea would make two free throws with under a minute reamining to give Ball State the 30-28 advantage over Buffalo at the half.
The Ball State women's basketball team continues Mid-American Conference action on the road when it travels to Akron Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tipoff in James A. Rhodes Arena.
