Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Ball State connected on 10 three-pointers and shot over 61 percent in the second half, handing Western Michigan (4-11, 0-2 MAC) its second Mid-American Conference loss, 70-67.
Despite the fact that Ball State made eight first-half three's, Western Michigan kept a step ahead and led 41-33 at the break. The Broncos shot 50 percent from the floor and countered with 4-of-8 shooting from behind the arc, Tiera DeLaHoussaye stepping back and hitting two of those. WMU also made up lost ground at the line, making nine free throws to BSU's three.
Ball State (9-6, 2-0 MAC) shot under WMU at 41 percent, but the performance put on by its long-range shooters was impressive. The first seven of the Cardinals' eight made baskets came from long range, and at one stretch, Ball State made five three-pointers in a row before missing.
Western Michigan limited the Cardinal touches outside in the second half but they found success taking it inside, scoring 26 of their 30 points in the paint in the last 20 minutes. Western Michigan made the opening bucket of the half to stretch its lead to 10, but had its offense cool down, shooting just 28 percent in the final period.
Ball State's Amber Clark got comfortable down low, scoring all 10 of her points in the second half, including the go-ahead bucket with 2:12 to go. Trading baskets and trailing by one, 68-67, Western Michigan had a chance to take the lead back, but Brenna Banktson's shot with 11 seconds remaining was blocked. The Broncos were forced to foul, and Aubrey McDonald knocked down both.
McDonald led four Cardinals in double digits with 19 points on 5-for-8 shooting behind the arc. Danielle Gratton scored 16 and Porchia Green had 13, joined by Clark's 10.
DeLaHoussaye led the Brown & Gold for the second-straight game, recording 19 points and a game-high seven rebounds. She added four assists and three steals. Ebony Cleary scored a season-high 15 points and Miame Giden chipped in 10.
The Broncos held the advantage on the glass, 37-27, and turned the ball over just 15 times.
Western Michigan will look to break its four-game losing streak at Northern Illinois on Wednesday, tipping off with the Huskies at 8 p.m. ET.
