Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
16-12, 12-5MAC
Central Michigan
12-16, 7-10MAC
WBB Clinches MAC West Title With Win At CMU
March 05, 2015 | Women's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Ball State women's basketball team clinched the Mid-American Conference West Division title with its 85-69 win at Central Michigan Wednesday night in McQuirk Arena.
It marks the first time since 2008-09 the Cardinals have clinched the MAC West title outright. In 2012-13, head coach Brady Sallee's first season, the Cardinals tied for second in the MAC West with Central Michigan but won the tie breaker after defeating the Chippewas twice that season.
With the win the Cardinals improved to 16-12 overall and 12-5 in conference action. They also locked up the No. 2 seed and a bye into the semifinals of next week's MAC Tournament in Cleveland. Central Michigan dropped to 12-16 overall and 7-10 in league play.
Junior Nathalie Fontaine led all scorers with 25 points while pulling down nine rebounds on the night. Sophomore Jill Morrison added 19 points and went 5-of-9 from behind the arc. Renee Bennett and Moriah Monaco each had 14 points on the night.
Ball State opened the second half with an 11-0 run to build a 16-point (48-32) advantage over CMU at the 16:29 mark. Morrison knocked down three shots from behind the arc during the Cardinals' scoring spree. Ball State continued making shots, eventually building a 19-point cushion (70-51) on a layup from Fontaine with just 8:28 left in the ball game.
The Cardinals had their best conference shooting performance of the season, shooting 52.9 percent from the floor (27-of-51) while holding Central Michigan to 38.7 percent.
The Cardinals got on the board first after a layup from Bennett in the first half. Central Michigan would take control, eventually building a 10-4 edge over Ball State at the 15:34 mark. A 12-3 run gave the Cardinals back the lead at 16-13 with 10 minutes left in the half.
Ball State eventually built a 10-point lead over Central Michigan after a basket from Monaco with 3:18 remaining. The Chippewas clawed back to come within three (34-31) with under a minute to play in the first period. After a 3-point basket from Shelby Merder with 33.8 seconds on the clock, the Cardinals entered halftime with a 37-32 lead.
The Ball State women's basketball team will end its Mid-American Conference regular season Saturday against Toledo at 2 p.m. in Worthen Arena. The Cardinals will also recognize their lone senior Shelbie Justice prior to the contest.
