Ball State University Athletics
Wednesday, March 8
Cleveland, Ohio
4:50 PM
Ball State University
21-10(14-4MAC)
65
vs
69
University at Buffalo
22-9 (10-8MAC)
1
2
3
4
F
Buffalo
17
18
12
22
69
Ball State
18
10
19
18
65
Women’s Basketball Falls in MAC Quarters to Buffalo
March 08, 2017 | Women's Basketball
Monaco scores 27, breaks Ball State single-season 3-point record
CLEVELAND -- Moriah Monaco scored 27 points Wednesday and broke the school record for single-season 3-pointers, but the Ball State women's basketball team suffered a 69-65 loss to defending champion Buffalo in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
The Bulls (22-9), which won last year's tournament as the No. 8 seed, advanced to this year's semifinals as the No. 7. Ball State (21-10) was the second high seed to fall Wednesday after regular season champion Central Michigan lost earlier in the day.
Sophomore point guard Carmen Grande posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists for Ball State, which rallied from seven down to tie the game entering the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena.
But the Cardinals could not withstand a 44-33 rebounding deficit against a Buffalo team that turned 17 offensive boards into 17 second-chance points.
"I thought rebounding really decided the game; points in the paint decided the game," Ball State coach Brady Sallee said." We knew that going in. They won those two categories, and they are moving on. I'm really proud of these two [Moriah Monaco and Carmen Grande] up here with me because I think they did everything they could do to help us, almost will us, to get that win."
Renee Bennett's 3-point play in the closing minute of the third pulled the Cardinals even for the first time since late in the opening period. It was a tie game again with five minutes to play before Buffalo took the lead for good on a Summer Hemphill bucket. The Bulls then extended the advantage to four with a pair of Katherine Ups free throws.
Monaco, who went 7 for 12 from 3-point range, pulled the Cardinals within a single possession three times in the closing minutes, but Buffalo answered each time. Her final 3 cut the lead to 67-65 with 10 seconds to play, but the Bulls made two free throws on the other end and held on.
Monaco ran her season total to 98 3-pointers, surpassing the previous mark of 95 set by current Cardinals assistant coach Audrey McDonald-Spencer in 2008-09. The junior forward from Dover, Ohio, was especially good against Buffalo this season. In the lone regular-season meeting between the teams, she made eight 3's and scored 35 points in a Ball State road victory.
Buffalo managed to avenge that loss Wednesday despite making just 1 of 14 from 3-point range. Stephanie Reid led the Bulls with 18 points, and JoAnna Smith added 14, although the Cardinals limited that duo to 12-of-34 shooting.
Ball State finished the day at 41 percent from the floor. Destiny Washington added nine points, and Bennett had eight to go along with four blocks.
The Cardinals will now await postseason tournament invitations.
The Bulls (22-9), which won last year's tournament as the No. 8 seed, advanced to this year's semifinals as the No. 7. Ball State (21-10) was the second high seed to fall Wednesday after regular season champion Central Michigan lost earlier in the day.
Sophomore point guard Carmen Grande posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists for Ball State, which rallied from seven down to tie the game entering the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena.
But the Cardinals could not withstand a 44-33 rebounding deficit against a Buffalo team that turned 17 offensive boards into 17 second-chance points.
"I thought rebounding really decided the game; points in the paint decided the game," Ball State coach Brady Sallee said." We knew that going in. They won those two categories, and they are moving on. I'm really proud of these two [Moriah Monaco and Carmen Grande] up here with me because I think they did everything they could do to help us, almost will us, to get that win."
Renee Bennett's 3-point play in the closing minute of the third pulled the Cardinals even for the first time since late in the opening period. It was a tie game again with five minutes to play before Buffalo took the lead for good on a Summer Hemphill bucket. The Bulls then extended the advantage to four with a pair of Katherine Ups free throws.
Monaco, who went 7 for 12 from 3-point range, pulled the Cardinals within a single possession three times in the closing minutes, but Buffalo answered each time. Her final 3 cut the lead to 67-65 with 10 seconds to play, but the Bulls made two free throws on the other end and held on.
Monaco ran her season total to 98 3-pointers, surpassing the previous mark of 95 set by current Cardinals assistant coach Audrey McDonald-Spencer in 2008-09. The junior forward from Dover, Ohio, was especially good against Buffalo this season. In the lone regular-season meeting between the teams, she made eight 3's and scored 35 points in a Ball State road victory.
Buffalo managed to avenge that loss Wednesday despite making just 1 of 14 from 3-point range. Stephanie Reid led the Bulls with 18 points, and JoAnna Smith added 14, although the Cardinals limited that duo to 12-of-34 shooting.
Ball State finished the day at 41 percent from the floor. Destiny Washington added nine points, and Bennett had eight to go along with four blocks.
The Cardinals will now await postseason tournament invitations.
Team Stats
BUF
BALLST
FG%
.418
.407
3FG%
.071
.348
FT%
.600
.692
RB
44
33
TO
11
13
STL
8
6
Game Leaders
Pts
27
FGM
10
3FGM
7
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballSports Link: Ashlynn Brooke (Women's Basketball)
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This Week in Ball State Sports Podcast // Brady Sallee and Joanna Saleem
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'Twas The Week Before #MACtion
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