Ball State Women’s Basketball falls to Toledo on Senior Day

Ball State Women’s Basketball falls to Toledo on Senior Day  

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

The Ball State Women’s Basketball team fell to the Toledo Rockets 72-70 Saturday afternoon in John E. Worthen Arena in Muncie.  The Cardinals were down 10 points with 2:32 remaining in the game when they mounted a comeback and had a chance to send the game to overtime. Toledo was called for a traveling violation with .4 seconds remaining. The Cardinals got the ball in the front court and were not able to get a shot off in time. Both teams along with Bowling Green were all 13-2 and tied for the lead in the Mid-American Conference. Toledo improves 14-2 in the MAC along with 23-4 overall record while Ball State falls to 13-3 in the conference and 23-6 overall. Buffalo knocked off Bowling Green 84-66 Saturday afternoon at Bowling Green. The Falcons fall to 13-3 in the MAC with Ball State coming into Bowling Green Wednesday at 5pm on ESPNU and hits to the road to face archrival Toledo on the road next Saturday while Ball State plays at Miami Ohio on the final day of the regular season.  “There is a lot of basketball left to play and scheduling gods decided to have Ball State, Toledo and Bowling Green play down the stretch and makes for great drama” Ball State head coach Brady Sallee said after the game.

Ball State was celebrating Senior Day as Anna Clephane and Thelma Dis Augustsdottir were joined out on the court by their families in pre-game ceremonies. Celphane is from Taylor Mill, KY and has had two season ending injuries as a redshirt junior and a freshman. Dis Augustsdottir came from Iceland and her family was able to be here for her special day and her family is thankful her opportunity to play college basketball. “When I first got here five years ago, I never said a word to anyone, I am thankful that my family could be here, and this has been a great experience, and this is a special day” Dis Augustsdottir said after the game.  Clephane finished the game with 9 points and 5 rebounds while Dis Augustdottir scored 6 points and pulled down 6 rebounds.

Ally Becki led the Cardinals in scoring with 18 Points, Madelyn Bischoff added 13 points along with 12 points off the bench from Annie Rauch.  Toledo was led by Quinesha Lockett with 20 points, Sophia Wiard added 18 points. Jeffersonville Indiana and Penn State transfer Nan Garcia scored 13 points and Sammi Mikonowicz added 10 points. Free Throws were the key factor in this game with Toledo going 22-29 for 76% while Ball State shot 11-17 for 64%. Toledo shot 22-50 from the field for 40% and 6-20 from three-point range for 30%. Ball State was 25-56 from the field for 44% and 9-25 from three-point range for 36%.

The Game was tied 11 times and the lead changed hands three times. Ball State led 16-14 at the end of the first quarter as the Cardinals went inside and put the Rockets on its heels.  Toledo outscored Ball State 28-19 in the second quarter and led at half 42-35 as the Rockets started to find their rhythm. Toledo led 60-47 at the end of the third quarter and outscored the Cardinals 18-12.  In the fourth quarter the Cardinals started to chip away at the lead and Anna Celphane nailed a three pointer to cut the lead to two. The crowd of 2,150 was a big factor the entire game with a good contingent of Toledo fans making the trip knowing what was on the line. Ball State saw a school record 14 game winning streak snapped as the Cardinals know there is a lot of basketball left with the Mid-American Tournament in Cleveland in less than two weeks.