Ball State University
University of Toledo
BSU Women’s Hoops Comes Tantalizingly Close against Toledo
February 23, 2019 | Women's Basketball
Oshlynn Brown leads Cardinals with 20 points, 11 rebounds
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State women's basketball team was just tenths of a second short of snapping its Mid-American Conference losing streak Saturday.
Officials waved of Nakeya Penny's game-winning 3-pointer, and review proved the shot left the BSU senior's hands just after the final second ticked off the clock.
The Cardinals wound up barely on the wrong end of a 63-62 decision against Toledo on Hoosieroons and Hoops Day at Worthen Arena.
Ball State (7-19, 2-12 MAC) wore jerseys with "Hoosieroons" emblazoned across the chest, harkening back to the 1920s when the school was known as the Indiana Normal School Eastern Division Hoosieroons. It was part of the university's year-long centennial celebration.
Mikaela Boyd scored what proved to be the game-winning bucket for Toledo. Oshlynn Brown temporarily thwarted the Rockets' final possession, swatting away Kaayla McIntyre's drive to the bucket. But Boyd grabbed the rebound and put it in with 5 seconds left to give Toledo a one-point lead.
After Toledo (16-9, 8-6 MAC) used its final foul to force a second inbounds and then batted a pass away to force a third, the Cardinals set up for their final play with 3 seconds on the clock. Brown was corralled after taking the inbounds pass and found Penny on the right wing. Her shot hit nothing but net but was tantalizingly too late.
Brown scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Ball State, while Thelma dis Agustsdottir scored 17 and Jasmin Samz added 10. McIntyre led four Toledo players in double figures with 16 points.
The teams went neck and neck for the entire 40 minutes in the MAC West Division rivalry battle. Toledo came to Worthen Arena after winning the first meeting in the season series.
Ball State had one of its stronger starts in conference play, outscoring Toledo 19-12 in the first 10 minutes of action. It was a different story in the second frame, leading to a tight affair.
Despite the loss, ?@BSUCoachBrady? was very proud of his team and how well they competed against Toledo in today's Hoosieroons "HoopsDay"! BSU will be back in action Wednesday at home against CMU!#ChirpChirp | #WeFly pic.twitter.com/KViBT9GVtA
— Ball State WBB (@BallStateWBB) February 23, 2019
After trailing the Rockets with 3:09 remaining in the second stanza, Ball State quickly regained control, closing the period with an 8-4 run to take a slim 30-28 lead at intermission. At the half, Agustsdottir and Brown had combined for 22 of the Cardinals' 30 points.
Neither team led by more than five points in the second half. Katie Helgason's 3-pointer with 4:54 to play evened the game at 57, and the teams traded the lead back and forth down the stretch.
The Ball State women's basketball team closes its three-game home stand Wednesday against MAC West Division leader Central Michigan at 7 p.m. on ESPN+ in Worthen Arena.
