MUNCIE, Ind. – In a very tough environment, the Western Michigan women's basketball team dropped a close road game 60-54 to Ball State in John E. Worthen Arena.

The Broncos drop to 15-11 overall and 7-7 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) while the Cardinals, who completed the season sweep of WMU, improved to 18-7 and 10-4 in the MAC with the win. This was the first game all season the Broncos lost when leading after three quarters (13-1).

“This loss isn't going to send this team backward. We just need to limit the turnovers because that is what hurt us today,” Head coach Shane Clipfell said. “We're going to come back in next week ready to work and it's nice that we have three of the next four games at home. We have to get ready for a tough Northern Illinois team.”

 WMU entered the fourth quarter with a 41-37 advantage, but the Cardinals battled back to regain the lead at 1:36, their first lead since 3:50 in the first quarter. BSU outscored the Broncos 23-13 in the fourth quarter. WMU took its largest lead of the fourth quarter at 54-49 off back-to-back layups by sophomore Alexis Parks and senior Alex Morton. The Cardinals stormed back and ended the game on an 11-0 run. WMU had two heavily guarded looks from 3-point range down the stretch, but neither could fall.

WMU outscored the Cardinals 11-7 in the first quarter and took a 24-22 lead into the break.

Individually, the Broncos had three players who finished just shy of double-doubles. Junior Meredith Shipman finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, senior Jessica Jessing had eight points and 11 rebounds while freshman Breanna Mobley finished with nine points and 11 rebounds. Senior Alex Morton led the team in scoring with 12 points and added three assists.

Shipman went 1-for-5 from 3-point range, putting her season total at 58 made to tie Shelsea Erving's total for No. 9 in WMU single season history. Casey Rost has the all-time record with 79 made 3-pointers in the 2003-04 season. 

As a team, WMU outshot the Cardinals (36.4 to 36.0) in field goals but Ball State hit 10 more free throws. The Broncos won the rebounding battle 39-36 including 14 on the offensive glass. Mobley and Jessing each had a game-high 11 rebounds. WMU was whistled for 27 fouls while Ball State had 19. The Broncos had a number of players in foul trouble throughout the game including starters Shipman, Jessing and senior Deborah Meeks.

The Brown & Gold return to action with three straight home games starting with Northern Illinois on Wednesday, Feb. 24.