WBB Outlasts Western Michigan in Today’s Defensive MAC Battle

Saturday, January 7

Kalamazoo, MI

2 pm

Ball State University

12-3,2-0MAC

Western Michigan University

5-8,0-2MAC

Ball St.

Western Mich.

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

WBB Outlasts Western Michigan in Today’s Defensive MAC Battle

January 07, 2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - For the second straight game, Ball State (12-3, 2-0 MAC) took its opponent down to the wire and again was able to come out on top. Multiple Cardinals made free throws down the stretch, helping Ball State to a 76-70 win over Western Michigan (5-8, 0-2 MAC) Saturday afternoon in University Arena.

"First of all, I am really proud of this group," Ball State head coach Brady Sallee said. "We talked solely about toughness the whole game and Western Michigan makes you play that way because they are an extremely well-coached group. Our team was tough and resilient once we got it down to winning time and our kids knew what to do. This was an important win for us."

Sallee also touched on the fact that they found out right before the game began starter Ally Becki wasn't going to be able to compete today and how well the team adjusted to one of its leaders not being on the court.

Without Becki in the lineup, the Cardinals used their bench which has been a spark plug for Ball State all season. In fact, freshman Sydney Bolden's second-chance layup with 4:32 remaining in the game gave BSU the lead for good in the final quarter.

Bolden, sophomore Marie Kiefer, redshirt senior Anna Clephane, graduate senior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir and sophomore Madelyn Bischoff all hit key free throws down the stretch to help seal today's victory over the Broncos.

It was a back-and-forth affair in the opening minutes of play between the Cardinals and the Broncos. Both teams battled early in the paint both offensively and defensively. Ball State found itself in foul trouble early in the first stanza which benched Clephane, the Cardinals' leading scorer. Western Michigan was able to capitalize on the situation, eventually taking a one-point (20-19) lead over Ball State after the opening stanza.

Agustsdottir stepped up for BSU after closing out the first quarter with a basket and then opened the second period with a 3-point basket to spark a 10-4 run. A 3-pointer from senior Sydney Shafer put Ball State back up by five (29-24) at the 7:46 mark.

The remainder of the first half was a dog fight, which allowed Western Michigan to take a slim 39-37 edge over Ball State at intermission.

After the break, Clephane hit back-to-back baskets that sparked a 7-0 run to help give BSU a five-point (44-39) advantage with only two minutes shaved off the clock. But WMU didn't go away quietly and would eventually make it a tied ball game (55-55) as both teams headed into the final frame of action.

For the game, Agustsdottir led Ball State with 20 points and shot 7-of-10 (.700) from the field. Clephane registered 14 points while Bolden wasn't too far behind with 13. Rounding out the double-digit scoring was Bischoff who ended the day with 11.

Defensively, Clephane pulled down eight rebounds and the Cardinals were able to keep the Broncos' top scorer and Mid-American Conference leader, Lauren Ross to a season low nine points.

The Ball State women's basketball team continues MAC action at Toledo Wednesday in Savage Arena. The game is slated for a 7 pm ET tipoff.