WBB Ends Regular Season with Win at Miami; Heads to MAC Tourney Next Week as the No. 3 Seed

Anna Clephane | Ball State University Athletic Department

By Muncie Reporter Reports

Mar 15, 2023

The Ball State women's basketball team ended the 2023 regular season on a high note earning a 77-68 victory on the road at rival Miami Saturday afternoon in Millett Hall. The Cardinals finished the season tied for second in the MAC standings.

The Cardinals (24-7, 14-4 MAC) had already sealed their fate in next week's Mid-American Conference Tournament in early February while the RedHawks (12-19, 7-11 MAC) were still fighting for a spot prior to today's loss. The last time Ball State entered the MAC Tourney in Cleveland as the No. 3 seed was in 2018.

Redshirt senior Anna Clephane tallied another double-digit performance leading the Cardinals' charge with 19 points while going 6-of-6 from the charity stripe and 6-of-13 from the field. Sophomore Madelyn Bischoff chipped in 17 points off 7-of-10 shooting from the floor and teammate graduate senior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir rounded out the double digit scoring for Ball State with 11.

The Cardinals opened today's game on mission, outscoring the RedHawks 23-15 in the first quarter of play.

A layup by Agustsdottir at the 6:34 mark in the second frame put the Cardinals up by 10 (29-19). The RedHawks fought back with an 11-5 run to close out the first half cutting Ball State's led to 34-30 at intermission.

After the break, Ball State scored 22 points in the third frame to take its largest of the ball game (53-38) which came off a layup from senior Estel Puiggros with 2:43 remaining. The Cardinals were able to hold onto a double-digit advantage (56-46) despite the RedHawks efforts heading into the final quarter of play.

In the fourth stanza, the RedHawks turned up their defense and were connecting offensively to make it a 3-point ball game (66-63) just under the two-minute mark.

As time was winding down, Clephane was sent to the line making both free throws to keep Ball State in the driver's seat. Miami continued to foul Ball State in its last efforts to win the ball game but Clephane who was perfect from the line, helped the Cardinals seal today's victory.

The Ball State women's basketball team will play in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tourney Wednesday night at approximately 30 minutes following game No. 3 in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse against the No. 6 seed.