Ball State University
16-5 (8-2MAC)
Buffalo
11-10 (3-7MAC)
WBB Pulls Out 59-57 Road Victory At Buffalo Saturday
February 06, 2016 | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The Ball State women's basketball team pulled out a close 59-57 victory on the road at Buffalo Saturday afternoon in Alumni Arena. With the win, Ball State improves to 16-5 overall and 8-2 in MAC action while the Bulls fall to 11-10 on the season and 3-7 in league play.
The game came down to the fourth quarter but Ball state came out atop after overcoming a 14-point halftime deficit. Senior Nathalie Fontaine led the Cardinals charge with 18 points after scoring only two in the first half. Sophomore Moriah Monaco was the only other Cardinal to score in double figures after having a 13-point performance.
A three-point basket from Monaco with 6:51 left in the game gave the Cardinals a 47-46 lead over the Bulls. Ball State remained in control the remainder of the fourth quarter. Buffalo made it a 54-53 contest at the 1:36 mark but Carmen Grande hit a clutch basket from behind the arc with 49.5 seconds remaining to put Ball State up by two 57-55.
In Buffalo's last efforts to win the ball game, the Bulls hit a layup and got fouled. The Bulls purposely missed the free throw on the three-point conversion but Rennee Bennett pulled down the rebound to seal the victory for Ball State.
After the break, Buffalo started the second half with a 16-5 run to take a commanding 42-31 lead over the Cardinals with 3:49 remaining in the third quarter. The Cardinals then fought back by going on a 10-2 scoring spree to end the quarter only down by three (44-41). Fontaine helped the Cardinals start to get back on track by scoring 10 points in the third quarter alone.
In the first half, Ball State struggled from the field only shooting 30.8 percent while Buffalo shot 44.4 percent from the floor. With 4:25 left in the second quarter, Moriah Monaco and Rennee Bennett hit back-to-back shots to take back a 19-17 lead over Buffalo. After that, the Bulls managed to close the half with a 9-0 run to take a six-point advantage over the Cardinals at the half.
Fontaine sat on the bench the majority of the first half due to foul trouble and was held to only two points.
For the game, Ball State ended up shooting only 38.6 percent from the field while Buffalo shot 42.1 percent from the floor. The Cardinals won the rebound battle though over the Bulls 40-to-31.
The Ball State women's basketball team continues Mid-American Conference action Wednesday at home against West Divsion leader Central Michigan at 7 p.m. in Worthen Arena.
