MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Western Michigan women's basketball team fell to Mid-American Conference leaders Ball State on the road at Worthen Arena, 61-51.

The Broncos led 10-8 at the end of the first quarter but the Cardinals scored the first five points on the second quarter to take a 13-11 lead and never trailed after. WMU was able to keep it close with their tough defense, trailing just 23-20 at the half.

The turning point of the game came in the third quarter, when Ball State opened with a 14-0 run to take a 37-20 lead. Western Michigan brought the lead back to single digits after Marina Asensio opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to make it 37-45, but was matched by a three from BSU's Lachelle Austin to push the lead to 48-37.

WMU was unable to overcome the deficit despite hot shooting from three in the final quarter. 

The Broncos shot 10-of-23 from three, while holding the Cardinals to 4-of-21. WMU out-rebounded BSU 33-30, but Ball State won the turnover battle, forcing 20 by WMU and having just nine. 

Asensio led the Broncos with 17 points and matched her career-high of seven rebounds. Hannah Spitzley had 10 points, while Artemis Kouki had nine points off the bench, going 3-of-3 from three to provide a spark. 

Western Michigan stays on the road next week, heading to Akron on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. tip and then to Texas State for the MAC-SBC Challenge on Saturday for a 3 p.m. start. Both games can be watched live on ESPN+.