TOLEDO, Ohio – Ball State women’s basketball faced one of its toughest road contests in Mid-American Conference (MAC) action tonight at Toledo.
Ball State lost its first MAC game of the season 70-66 in a hard-fought game.
Here are three takeaways from the Cardinals’ loss.
Alex Richard impresses again
Even though it feels like beating a broken record, senior Alex Richard put on another strong performance for the Cardinals. Richard’s return has been one of the season’s biggest storylines. Ball State was impressive without her, but the paint presence and physicality are noticeably different.
Richard has averaged 14.8 points per game in MAC play, with a previous season-high of 23 against Western Michigan Feb. 1. Tonight, Richard had 21 in the first half alone. She finished with a career-high 33, six rebounds, one assist and a steal for good measure.
The consistency from night in and night out from Richard has been a major part of the success Ball State has seen in the MAC this season.
Looking at the Cardinals’ success, most of the recognition goes to senior Ally Becki. That recognition is deserved, as Becki has been as good as anyone in the MAC this season. However, the dependability and balance Richard brings to the paint on both ends of the floor are dominant.
Women’s college basketball teams that succeed often have top-of-the-line paint play and dominate the block. Richard, along with senior Marie Kiefer and the anticipated return of graduate student Elise Stuck, give the Cardinals arguably the strongest frontcourt in the MAC.
Although Richard was shining, the Cardinals were unable to finish a game they battled in. Toledo put out a talented team and came out with a gritty win over the Cardinals.
Slow out of the break
The Cardinals took a 30-28 lead into the halftime break. With 4:46 to go in the third quarter, Toledo had made it a 43-34 Rocket lead.
Ball State came out of the break sloppy and Toledo took advantage of that. The Cardinals committed 15 turnovers and Toledo capitalized with 19 points off turnovers.
Ball State shot 7-for-13 in the quarter, scoring 18 points. The Rockets scored 20 on 9-for-15 from the field. The number that popped off the screen though was the eight turnovers committed in the quarter by Ball State. Toledo scored 11 points off turnovers from those eight times the Cardinals coughed it up.
Limiting mistakes, taking care of the ball, and controlling the glass have been the main characteristics of Ball State’s struggles during the season. It does not often happen, but Ball State was outrebounded in the third quarter, albeit by just one.
Despite the slow start out of the gates, a Lachelle Austin three-ball at the buzzer sent the game into the final stanza all knotted up at 48. That deep make was one of three made by both teams in the quarter. Ball State was 2-for-5, Toledo 1-for-4.
The slow start to the third turned out to be just enough for Toledo to sneak past the Cardinals and come out on top.
Cardinals unable to hold on in a back-and-forth contest
Ball State and Toledo’s contest saw 11 lead changes, and each team leading for over 16 minutes respectively. The game was also tied at nine different times throughout the contest.
Toledo is tied for second in the MAC with Buffalo while the Cardinals remain at No. 1. Despite the loss, Ball State remains atop the conference, and with five games remaining, it could remain the same.
Ball State was unable to hold on late in the fourth quarter. A costly turnover and foul from Austin with 24 seconds remaining felt like what sealed it. Senior Madelyn Bischoff had just buried two free throws to make it a three-point game the possession prior.
The foul sent Toledo to the line where the Rockets were able to knock both down before Ball State came storming down the floor. Becki drained a deep — from the mid-court logo — three-ball, but that was the last of the magic Ball State had left.
Richard’s career game was not enough for Ball State to hang onto a win. Despite her performance, the Cardinals were out-played most of the game.
Ball State also only shot 13 free throws to Toledo’s 27, but most of those shots came in the final minutes when Ball State had to foul to keep the game alive.
Ball State returns to Worthen Arena Feb. 22 with a noon tip against Kent State. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
Contact Logan Connor via email at logan.connor@bsu.edu or via X @_loganconnor
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