Ball State University
18-8, 10-5MAC
Central Michigan
18-8, 12-3MAC
WBB Barely Loses To MAC West Leader CMU 67-66
February 25, 2016 | Women's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Ball State women's basketball suffered a close 67-66 loss at Central Michigan Wednesday night in McGuirk Arena.
With the win, Central Michigan remains in control of the Mid-American Conference West Division with an 18-8 overall record and a 12-3 conference ledger while Ball State stays in second place, falling to 18-8 overall and 10-5 in league action.
The Cardinals had three players in double figures tonight with Nathalie Fontaine leading the charge after scoring 19 points while pulling down 11 rebounds for her 32nd double-double of her career. After tonight's performance, Fontaine has 2,055 career points and is 37 shy of becoming Ball State women's basketball all-time leading scorer. Moriah Monaco performed well after chipping in 17 points which included four three point baskets. Renee Bennett closed out the double digit scoring with 16 points and added seven rebounds.
Ball State opened the second half with back-to-back baskets from Monaco and Benett to give the Cardinals their first lead (35-32) since the first quarter. Both teams continued to trade baskets with Ball State taking a 51-50 edge heading into the last quarter.
Central Michigan led the majority of the fourth quarter but not by much. It was a four-point ball game, 63-59, with 1:13 left on the clock. Fontaine was then fouled on a key layup. She would convert on the three-point play to make it a 63-62 ball game with just under a minute to play.
Poor defensive execution by the Cardinals in the last three possessions forced Ball State to foul Central Michigan. The Chippewas would make their free throws to go back up by three (67-64) with 12 seconds remaining. Fontaine hit a layup to make it a one-point contest (67-66). CMU then turned the ball over and gave back the possession to the Cardinals. With one last chance to win the ball game, Fontaine threw up a shot from behind the arc but it hit off the rim giving the Chippewas the victory.
Right out the gates you knew both teams were going to fight until the very end of the game. After three ties and seven lead changes in the first quarter, the Chippewas entered the second quarter with a 20-15 edge over Ball State. The Cardinals eventually fell behind by 13 points (30-17) with 4:24 remaining in the first half.
After that, Bennett hit a layup which would spark an 11-2 run for the Cardinals. Bennett, Monaco and Fontaine each played a part in the run to ended the half down by four (32-28) to the Chippewas.
The Ball State women's basketball team continues Mid-American Conference action on the road when it travels to Eastern Michigan Saturday for a 2 p.m. tipoff in the Convocation Center. The Eagles upset Toledo tonight by a score of 58-46 in Savage Arena.
