MUNCIE, Ind. – Leading for over 25 minutes on Saturday afternoon the Western Michigan women's basketball team was unable to hold on to a second half lead in a 76-69 loss to Ball State in the regular season finale.

Western Michigan had four players score in double figures against the Cardinals led by redshirt senior Reilly Jacobson with 21 points. Jacobson shot 7-of-13 from the field and was a stellar 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. Jacobson posted her second straight 20-point performance and ended the season scoring 20 or more points in four of the last five contest.

The redshirt senior against Ball State also collected five rebounds to go along with three assists, two steals and one block.

Behind Jacobson was sophomore Sydney Shafer with 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting from the field with four three-pointers. Shafer also had five rebounds to go along with two assists in 26 minutes. It's the 15^th game this season in which Shafer has scored in double figures while her five three-pointers matched a career-high.

Redshirt freshman Taylor Williams ranked third on the team with 13 points while registering a team-high eight rebounds. Williams was 6-of-12 from the field on Saturday with four of her eight rebounds coming on the offensive glass. Williams also registered one assist, one steal and one block.

Rounding out the double digit scoring for the Broncos was junior guard Maddie Watters with 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting from the field with two three-pointers. It's the sixth straight game Watters has scored in double figures and since being inserted into the starting line-up back on Feb. 17 is averaging 13.0 points per game.

Freshman Megan Wagner in the final game of her freshman campaign registered three points while also earning a career-high seven rebounds and a career-high seven assists. Rounding out the scoring for the Brown & Gold was forward Abby Voss with six points on 3-of-6 shooting from the field.

As a team the Broncos shot 39.4 percent from the field and was 7-of-24 from behind the three-point line. WMU was out rebounded 44-34 while holding a slim 10-9 advantage on the offensive glass. Western Michigan forced Ball State to commit 17 turnovers on Saturday afternoon while scoring 36 of its 69 points in the paint.

The 2020-21 campaign for Western Michigan ends with the Broncos winning three of their final five games and earning an overall record of 6-15 and 5-14 in Mid-American Conference play.

Both teams knocked down three-pointers to begin the game before the Broncos went on a 7-0 run to grab a 7-3 lead at the 6:37 mark. Western Michigan extended its lead later in the first after holding Ball State scoreless from the field for over two minutes. A Maddie Watters and-one highlighted an 8-0 run for WMU that gave the Brown & Gold a 17-8 lead with 3:39 remaining.

To end the first quarter, the Cardinals continued to claw their way back and went on a 5-0 run to cut the lead down to three. WMU made just one of its final five field goals en route to a 19-16 lead after one quarter of play.

It was a back and forth battle to begin the second quarter as WMU held on to a slim 24-19 lead at the 7:10 mark. Midway through the second quarter Ball State embarked on a 9-2 run to earn a 26-24 lead as the Broncos were held scoreless from the field for over three minutes. The Broncos responded with a 5-0 run of their own after a Jacobson lay-up and a Watters three to give the Brown & Gold a 31-28 advantage.

Ending the first half the Broncos embarked on a 10-1 run as Ball State made just one of their final five field goals. WMU entered the locker room with a 36-29 lead.

Out of halftime the Broncos got a spark from Reilly Jacobson who scored six straight points through the first three minutes of action to give WMU a 42-34 lead. Ball State responded with a 5-0 run of its own to cut its deficit down to five with 5:04 remaining in the third.

Western Michigan held its lead late in the third before Ball State made three of its last four field goals including one as time expired to tie WMU and Ball State at 53 heading into the fourth quarter.

Ball State continued its momentum from the third and embarked on a 10-2 run through the first three minutes of the fourth to take a 63-57 lead. An Abby Voss lay-up with 5:05 left cut the Broncos deficit down to one as the lay-up highlighted a 7-0 run for the Brown & Gold. Ball State responded with a 6-0 run to extend its lead before a Shafer three cut the WMU deficit down to three.

Both teams went scoreless for over 2:30 as Ball State held a 72-67 lead with less than 30 seconds remaining. Trialing by four Western Michigan had a chance to cut its deficit down to a one possession game before a costly turnover led to a BSU lay-up to secure a 76-69 win. Down the stretch WMU made just one of its final eight field goals.