Ball State University
24-7,16-2MAC
Ohio University (Senior Day)
6-23,4-14MAC
WBB Ends Regular Season Action with Win over Ohio on Senior Day
March 08, 2025 | Women's Basketball
Marie Kiefer became the all-time single season blocks leader and Ally Becki etched her name as the program’s all-time assists leader
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State women's basketball team (24-7, 16-2 MAC) sent its six seniors off in style as the Cardinals earned an impressive 82-57 victory over Ohio (6-23, 4-14 MAC) Saturday afternoon in Worthen Arena.
The 2025 Mid-American Conference regular season championship Cardinals will continue their season Wednesday at the MAC Tournament in Cleveland as the No. 1 seed. Ball State will play at 11 am ET in the quarterfinal round against the No. 8 seed Western Michigan Broncos.
The Cardinals opened Saturday's game versus the Bobcats a bit sluggish,which was to be expected as emotions were high on senior day. Senior Marie Kiefer kept Ball State alive in the opening quarter with some nice plays under the basket scoring eight points. When Ohio started missing their shots late in the quarter, the Cardinals took advantage and built a 22-18 lead at the quarter break.
An Alex Richard layup followed by an old fashioned 3-point play from Elise Stuck helped spark a 13-0 Ball State run to start the second quarter and made it a 35-18 ball game with 6:26 left to play. Ball State's defense would go on to hold Ohio scoreless until the 5:42 mark of the second stanza. Ally Buckets Becki capped off the first half with an off-the-dribble 3-pointer to extend Ball State's lead to 46-28 at intermission.
After the break, the third quarter was slow moving for both squads. Some unforeseen turnovers, along with some Cardinals fouls, limited BSU's offense. Stuck broke Ball State's scoring drought with a bucket and a free throw to put the Cardinals back up 59-37 with 2:27 remaining in the third frame. The Cardinals then took a 22-point (64-42) cushion into the final 10 minutes of play.
The Cardinals did not give the Bobcats a chance to make any kind of comeback for the remainder of the contest. The seniors played their hearts out as Kiefer broke the program's single season record for blocks (198) and Becki became the program's all-time assists leader (699).
For the game, Richard once again had a standout performance with 25 points and 10 rebounds while Kiefer finished the night with 10 points. Becki dished out 10 assists.
