KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan's offense never got in rhythm, as the Broncos fell to 6-14 overall and 2-5 in the Mid-American Conference with a 73-50 loss to Ball State (9-11, 6-1 MAC) Thursday.

Sophomore Michelle O'Brien was the only player to reach double digits for the Brown & Gold, coming off the bench to score 12 points.

Three Ball State players combined to match WMU's overall point total, two of those Cardinals, Shelbie Justice and Natalie Fountaine, recording career-high games.

Justice torched WMU for four three-pointers and 18 points in the first half and ended with 20 points on the night. Fountaine also finished with 20 points, scoring 16 of those in the second half. Brittany Carter was the third Cardinal in double figures with 10 points.

Western Michigan got into an early hole, trailing 15-3 at the 11:38 mark of the first half. The Broncos put together a run to cut the deficit to four, but then Justice got the hot hand behind the arc and the Cardinals quickly pulled away again. WMU trailed by 18 at the half, 39-21.

Ball State hurt Western Michigan in transition in the second half, scoring 22 points in the paint. The Cardinals dominated the margin down low for the game, 34-10.

WMU shot just 29.3 percent from the field, while Ball State hit 49.1 percent and 46.2 percent from three-point range.

Sophomore Marquisha Harris followed O'Brien with nine points for Western Michigan. Freshman Alex Morton had eight points and classmate Jessica Jessing hit two three's for six points.

The Broncos travel to Toledo (18-2, 6-1 MAC) Sunday for a noon tip-off.