Clephane Ties Career High 26 Points to Help Lift WBB Past Akron

Saturday, February 11

Akron, OH

2 pm

Ball State University

21-4,11-1MAC

University of Akron

14-9,5-7MAC

Ball St.

Akron

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

Clephane Ties Career High 26 Points to Help Lift WBB Past Akron

February 11, 2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

AKRON, Ohio - Redshirt senior Anna Clephane tied her career high with 26-points to help the Ball State women's basketball team move past Akron, 61-56, Saturday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena.

The Cardinals (21-4, 11-1 MAC) managed to get the job done against the Zips (14-9, 5-7 MAC) for their ninth-straight victory.

Both teams struggled throughout the first quarter of play with Ball State trailing Akron 13-11 at the 4:51 mark. It was not until back-to-back layups from Clephane and Annie Rauch sparked the Cardinals' offensive. Ball State would close the first frame with a 9-0 run to take the 20-13 edge over Akron.

Ball State carried its run into the second quarter, clicking on all cylinders from the court offensively and defensively. The Cardinals built a comfortable seven-point cushion at the four-minute mark (26-19). Akron answered with a late comeback, however, cutting Ball State's lead two (29-27) at intermission.

After the break, Clephane and sophomore Madelyn Bischoff got the Cardinals going offensively to put Ball State back up by six (38-32). Ball State continued to progress the remainder of the third frame outscoring Akron, 21-15, to take an eight-point (50-42) lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

The contest would come down to the fourth quarter, however, as Akron battled back to tie the score at 56 with 3:41 remaining. Marie Kiefer broke the score 40 second later, giving her 10 points in the game. After two-and-a-half scoreless minutes, Clephane hit a pivotal three throw to push the lead to 59-56.

A defensive rebound from sophomore Ally Becki with 17 seconds left after a missed shot from Akron forced the Zips to foul Ball State in its last efforts to win the ball game.

Fortunately for the Cardinals, Clephane was sent to the line, and she would hit both from the charity stripe which sealed the victory for BSU.

This was the second 20-plus point performance this week for Clephane. The only other Cardinal to reach double figures was Kiefer with her 10.

The Ball State women's basketball team returns home Wednesday when it hosts Ohio at 6:30 pm ET in Worthen Arena. It will also be Ball State's annual "Think Pink" game where fans are encouraged to wear pink for breast cancer awareness.

Fans can purchase tickets to the game by calling the Stoops Buick/GMC Ticket Center at 888.BSU.TICKET or 765.285.1474 to join the Cardinal Family inside Worthen Arena! Season and group tickets are also on sale now, while single game tickets are also available online at Ticketmaster.com.