Women’s Basketball Remains Unscathed in #MACtion with Win Over BGSU

Saturday, January 13

Muncie, Ind.

1 pm

Ball State University

14-2,4-0MAC

Bowling Green (Greek Night)

9-5,3-1MAC

Bowling Green

Ball St.

Photo by: Samantha Blankenship / Ball State University

Women’s Basketball Remains Unscathed in #MACtion with Win Over BGSU

January 13, 2024 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. - The Cardinals remained undefeated in Mid-American Conference action along with staying atop of the league standings after earning a 76-61 defeat over the Bowling Green Falcons Saturday afternoon in Worthen Arena.

It was an all-around team effort by Ball State (14-2, 4-0 MAC) over one of its longtime conference rivalries Bowling Green (9-5, 3-1). BSU's 4-0 MAC start hasn't happened since the 2014-15 season.

Both Ball State and Bowling Green are two of the league's strongest defensive teams so it came to no surprise that today's opening 10 minutes of play would prove just that. BSU and BGSU had both reached the bonus by the five-minute mark with the 11-11 tie coming mostly from free throws.

Just a minute later, Ally Becki would drop in five-straight points to put the Cardinals up 16-11. Although Bowling Green kept chomping at the heels of Ball State the Cardinals were able to hold on to a seven-point (26-19) edge after the first quarter of play thanks to Nyla Hampton's layup at the buzzer.

The second period would be a bit trickier for Ball State, as Becki along with few others had to sit the bench due to some foul trouble. But the Cardinals bench is deep, and Ball State has many weapons which allowed BSU to build a 20-point cushion (44-24) over the Falcons at intermission.

Estel Puiggros, Hana Mühl and Annie Rauch scored a combined 15 points to help BSU end the half with a comfortable lead. Ball State's defense held Bowling Green to only five points in the second stanza.

Ball State used a well-balanced offense along with some disciplined defense in the third and fourth quarters to take a 20-point advantage 67-47 with 6:45 remaining in the contest. After that, Ball State never looked back, allowing the Cardinals to hold off the Falcons for their eighth-straight victory.

For the game, Madelyn Bischoff led the Cardinals with 18 points while Becki turned in a 16-point performance. Puiggros who came off the bench and made some key baskets finished the day with 12 points off 3-of-4 shooting from behind the arc.

As a team, Ball State outpaced Bowling Green 32-24 in the paint while also scoring 22 points off the Falcons 18 miscues. The Cardinals would out rebound the Falcons, 36-30.

The Ball State women's basketball team will play on the road Wednesday at Central Michigan for an 11 am tipoff in McGuirk Arena.