Women’s Basketball Out Toughs WKU Behind Becki’s 16 points

Sunday, December 10

Bowling Green, KY

3 pm ET/2 pm CT

Ball State University

7-2,0-0MAC

Western Kentucky University

6-5,0-0CUSA

Ball St.

Western Ky.

Women’s Basketball Out Toughs WKU Behind Becki’s 16 points

December 10, 2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Ball State women's basketball team held on for a 67-59 win at Western Kentucky Sunday afternoon at E.A. Diddle Arena.

The Cardinals improved to 7-2 on the season while the Lady Toppers fell to 6-5 in non-conference action. The game became closer than Ball State had anticipated midway through the fourth quarter, but Ball State was able to stop Western Kentucky's ability for a comeback.

For the game, Ally Becki led the Cardinals with 16 points while Marie Kiefer finished the day scoring 14. Estel Puiggros rounded out the double-figure scoring with 11.

Defensively, Nyla Hampton stole the ball four times while also dishing out nine assists.

The Cardinals opened today's contest with a hot shooting hand behind the arc against the Lady Toppers. A few 3's from Becki, Kiefer along with Puiggros allowed Ball State to end the first period with a 20-12 edge over WKU. Ball State shot 67 (6-9) percent from the 3-point line in the first 10 minutes of play.

Western Kentucky gave Ball State a run for its money in the second period after starting with an 8-4 scoring spree to come within four (24-20) with 6:41 off the clock.

But the Cardinals regained their footing and adjusted defensively allowing BSU to go back up by ten (30-20) with 4:29 left in the half. Layups from Annie Rauch, Hana Mühl and Hampton allowed Ball State to take back control. The Cardinals would then carry that 10-point (32-22) advantage over the Lady Toppers into intermission.

After the break, the Cardinals continued to sustain a 10-point lead over the Lady Toppers. Every time Western Kentucky tried to make a comeback Ball State answered quickly to stop the Lady Toppers in their tracks. Alex Richard hit a jumper with 1:04 left in the third to put Ball State back up 51-39. WKU would end the third frame with free throws to make the score 51-41 as both teams headed into the final period.

Western Kentucky kept making Ball State work for its victory in the final quarter. The score was 58-52 with 5:29 left in the contest. The Cardinals outplayed the Lady Toppers the remainder of the game to secure today's win.

The Ball State women's basketball team will take a little over a week break for finals before heading to Tampa, Fla., to compete in the Sun Coast Challenge (Dec. 19-21) where the Cardinals will face Pitt and Georgia, respectively. Both games will begin at noon.