MUNCIE, Ind.- The Western Michigan women's basketball team experienced its first loss since Nov. 21, dropping a 61-56 decision at Ball State Saturday.  

It was just the Broncos' third loss of the season and the result snapped WMU's longest winning streak (10 games) since the 1986-87 season. WMU's previous two defeats were against Big Ten teams, falling to then No. 21 ranked Michigan State in overtime on Nov. 18 and on the road at Michigan three days later.

Senior Meredith Shipman hit her first three 3-point attempts to begin the game, helping WMU jump out to a 14-2 lead. The Broncos held an 18-6 advantage at the end of the first quarter.  

The second quarter scoring was almost flipped, as Ball State made defensive adjustments and began to connect on the offensive end. The Cardinals out-scored WMU 19-7 in the second quarter and the game was tied at halftime, 25-25. 

"We played so well offensively in the first quarter and then we felt like we let the frustration of our offense carry over to the lack of participation on our defense in the second quarter," WMU head coach Shane Clipfell said.  

"We talked to our team and said that is when you have to be at your absolute best, when you are struggling to get the ball in the bucket," Clipfell added.  

The second half was more of a steady back-and-forth battle, as neither team led by more than two possessions the remainder of the game. WMU held a 40-36 advantage with 1:56 left in the third quarter and then enjoyed its last lead, 42-41, with 9:49 to go in the fourth.  

Ball State's Moriah Monaco helped get her team over the hump, hitting three critical 3-pointers over a stretch to end the third quarter and go into the fourth.  

WMU failed to come up with a big defensive stop in the final minute. With the shot clock approaching zero, Ball State's Carmen Grande converted a scoop layup off the glass with 36.8 seconds left to give the Cardinals a 57-51 lead. Shipman hit a closely guarded three to give WMU a chance, but Ball State closed out the win going 6-for-8 at the free-throw line over the final 18 seconds.  

Shipman finished with a game-high 20 points and five 3-pointers. She moved into seventh place at WMU for career three's with 128, passing A.J. Johnson with 125.  

Senior Marley Hill had 10 points and six rebounds before fouling out with 18.5 seconds  remaining. Sophomore Breanna Mobley hauled in a game-high 16 rebounds and had seven points.  

Monaco paced Ball State (10-5, 3-0 MAC) with 18 points. Center Renee Bennett recorded a double-double with 14 point and 14 rebounds.  

"We didn't get the job done here today," Clipfell said. "We had chances and opportunities to do that in a really tough place to play. We just have to simply approach each game as if it is the most important game of the season."  

Western Michigan (11-3, 2-1 MAC) returns to Kalamazoo to host Bowling Green (5-10, 1-2) on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m.