Muncie Reporter

WBB Falls to Bowling Green in MAC Tourney Semifinals

The Ball State women's basketball team turned in an all-around strong performance but ultimately was unable to move past second-seeded Bowling Green, losing the contest 70-61 Friday afternoon in the semifinal round of the 2023 Mid-American Conference Tournament in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

As to be expected, the Cardinals and the Falcons had a back-and-forth affair in the opening quarter which saw the game knotted 18-18 after the first quarter of play. 

It was Ball State though that outpaced Bowling Green in second frame action. First Team All-MAC selection Anna Clephane put on a show for the Cardinals with some driving layups which were accompanied by defensive plays to put BSU up 27-18 at the 5:47 mark. BSU's defense was gave BGSU some major fits which turned into some Falcon miscues that helped the Cardinals' success. 

Ball State would end up outscoring Bowling Green 16-13 to take a 34-31 advantage over Bowling Green at intermission. 

After the break, the Falcons were able to control the ball and make some crucial baskets while giving the Cardinals a run for their money on defense. BGSU won the scoring battle in the third frame 19-7, which allowed the Falcons to take a 50-44 edge over the Cardinals heading into the final 10 minutes of regulation.

Intensity was high in the final quarter with Bowling Green having a 10-point lead at the five-minute mark. Ball State kept battling and slowly made its way back into the contest. A clutch basket from sophomore Marie Kiefer got the Cardinals back on track, but the Falcons prevailed down the stretch to seal their fate by advancing the to championship game. 

For the game, Clephane led the Cardinals again in scoring with 20 points while Second Team All-MAC honoree Ally Becki finished the day with 11. All-MAC Honorable Mention selection Thelma Dis Agustsdottir chipped in with another 10 points.

The third-seeded Cardinals (25-8) will now await their fate for a postseason bid after falling to the Falcons (27-5). 

Original source can be found here.