KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan women's basketball team battled to the closing minutes, but dropped a 78-71 decision to Ball State on Saturday afternoon at University Arena.

The Broncos (2-10, 1-9 MAC) were paced by 21 points from Sydney Shafer who connected for five three-pointers while adding four assists and a steal. Reilly Jacobson contributed 19 points, going 9-for-10 from the foul line, while pulling down six rebounds.

Ball State (8-5, 6-3 MAC) won its fourth-straight behind four players in double figures. Themla Agustsdottir led the way with 18 points, while Sydney Freeman scored 16, Anna Celphane had 14 and Oshlynn Brown had 10. Brown added eight rebounds, as did Annie Rauch.

Ball State opened the game by shooting a blistering 57-percent from the floor in the first quarter, opening a 20-15 lead after the first frame. Defensive pressure kept WMU in the game, as the Broncos scored 10 points off five Ball State turnovers. Shafer drilled a pair of three-pointers in the quarter, as well.

Ball State continued its hot shooting touch into the second quarter, scoring the first four points of the period to open a nine-point lead, 24-15. Western Michigan responded, going on an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 26-24. The teams traded baskets for much of the second quarter, as each team scored 17 points and shot 50-percent or better from the floor. The visitors hit four of their last five field goals to again hold a five-point lead at the end of the quarter, 37-32.

In the first half, Ball State was led by 10 points from Freeman and nine from Agustsdottir. Nine different Cardinals had scored by halftime. Jacobson was pacing the hosts with nine at the break, while Shafter had contributed eight. The Broncos hit all seven attempts from the foul line in the opening frame.

A pair of three-pointers helped WMU take the lead early in the second half. Taylor Williams connected from three to open the scoring in the third quarter and after a pair of Ball State free throws, a Hannah Spitzley layup was followed by a Megan Wagner three-pointer to put the Broncos ahead, 40-39. Ball State retook the lead before Shafer drilled a three and Williams converted a three-point play to give WMU a five-point advantage, 46-41, midway through the third.

The visitors cut it to one before another Shafer three-pointer stretched the lead back to four, 49-45. Waters followed with another three-pointer to stretch the lead to eight, 53-45, with just over two minutes left in the third. The teams traded buckets before Western Michigan took a 55-50 lead into the fourth quarter.

Spitzley opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer and the teams then traded baskets before a Jacobson three gave the Bronco an eight-point lead, 62-54, with 7:37 to play. Ball State then used a 12-0 run over the ensuing three minutes, capped by a three-point play from Freeman, to take a 66-62 lead with 4:38 left.

The Broncos did not go quietly, as a Shafer three pulled WMU within a point before Jacobson hit four free throws sandwiched around a Ball State jumper to tie the game at 69 with 2:49 to play. The Cardinals then came up clutch with a 6-0 run keyed by an Agustsdottir three-pointer, giving Ball State a 75-69 lead with 48 seconds left.

Shafer made a layup to cut it to 75-71 with 36 seconds remaining, but Freeman added a pair of free throws to push the lead back to six. Wagner couldn't convert a layup on the offensive end for WMU and more free throws put the game on ice for Ball State, providing a final margin of 78-71.

The Broncos return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 3, when they travel to Miami for a 5:30 p.m. showdown in Oxford, Ohio.

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