Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
9-9, 5-2MAC
Ohio University
15-3, 6-1MAC
WBB Suffers 60-53 Loss To MAC East Leader Ohio
January 25, 2015 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind.- The Ball State women's basketball team fell to Mid-American Conference East Division leader Ohio 60-53 Saturday evening in Worthen Arena. With the loss, the Cardinals fall to 9-9 overall and 5-2 in league action while Ohio improves 15-3 on the year and 6-1 in MAC Play.
"The tougher team won and the points in the paint show it 28-to-8," Ball State head women's basketball coach Brady Sallee said. "No matter what the miss matches were they were tougher than us in every position. They were the better basketball team. I give them a lot of credit. We have got to learn from this if you get out toughed it's never going to work. We will try to figure that part of it out."
Nathalie Fontaine led all scorers with an 18-point performance. Jill Morrison chipped in 12 points while teammate Moriah Monaco finished the night with 11. Candyce Ussery led Ball State defensively with seven rebounds.
The Cardinals found themselves trailing by 15 points (45-30) with 12:44 left in the game. However, the Cardinals climbed their way back into the ball game after orchestrating a 16-0 run in a span of six minutes to take a 46-45 lead over the Bobcats at the 7:10 mark. Monaco would play a huge part during that run after hitting back-to-back three point baskets while also knocking down two free throws.
Unfortunately, Ohio would remain strong on defense in the end, and would go back up by six with 2:36 on the clock. After that, the Bobcats controlled the remainder of the contest to win the game by seven (60-53) despite Ball State's efforts.
Ohio jumped out to a quick 9-3 advantage over the Cardinals in the opening minutes of the ball game. Ball State would quickly answer with a 15-5 scoring spree which was sparked by a layup from Fontaine to put the Cardinals up 15-14 at the 8:15 mark. After that, both teams traded baskets, with Ball State holding on to a slim 23-22 lead with 3:26 left on the clock. Ohio would close the opening half with a 6-2 run to take a 28-25 advantage at intermission.
The Ball State women's basketball team continues Mid-American Conference cross-division action on the road Wednesday at Miami for a 7 p.m. tipoff in Millett Hall.
