OXFORD, Ohio -- The Ball State women's basketball team stayed with the Mid-American Conference East Division leaders for about 30 minutes, but fell short in the final minutes, dropping its fourth straight in a 75-65 loss to the Miami Redhawks. With the win Miami won the MAC regular season title outright.
"I really felt like we did a great job for 30 minutes," head coach Tracy Roller said. "Just in the last ten minutes they just had that something that you have when you're a championship team; they refused to lose."
Ball State got their first points when junior Kate Endress made a basket after being fouled and completed the 3-point play. The free throw put them down 4-3, but Miami would go on a 8-0 run to get out to a quick 12-3 lead.
The Cardinals would chip slowly chip away at Miami's nine point lead getting it down to five four times before they were able to get within three with 5:56 remaining in the first half. Ball State used six straight points to go on a 7-4 run to close the half. Cindi Merrill's free throws with 34 seconds left for Miami were the difference at halftime, sending the Cardinals to the locker room down 28-26.
Although the Cardinals started the game struggling on the boards, getting only three to the Redhawks' six in the early minutes, they came on strong to end the half with a 24-18 advantage. Senior Jessica Reiter led the efforts with nine, while Endress and freshman Becca Bajorek each had four.
"I was just going out there and trying to work hard and get the rebounds," Reiter said. "I've been struggling lately so I just wanted to go out there and try to get back."
After Miami started the game converting twice as many shots as the Cardinals, both teams ended the first half shooting 32 percent from the field with neither team hitting a 3-pointer. Endress led Ball State with 12 points while Merrill led the Redhawks with eight.
After the break Reiter tied the game on the Cards' opening possession. From there neither team scored two consecutive baskets until there was 14:56 remaining when senior Johna Goff hit the game's first 3-pointer putting the Cards' up 35-32.
Miami would later get its first 3-pointer from Amanda Jackson which gave them a 41-37 lead. The Redhawks would hold that lead for the rest of the game.
After Miami scored five straight points, freshman Kelsey Corbin sparked Ball State by scoring four straight to get them within four at 56-52. Seconds later Goff would answer a Miami basket to get it back within four, but Miami would prove to be too much in the final minutes, getting the 75-65 victory.
After scoring only two points in the first half, Corbin finished with a 21-point performance, which bettered her career high by 11. Endress and Goff also scored in double figures with 16 and 11 points respectively.
"She took us on her back and carried us at times, especially the second half," Roller said about Corbin. "That's exciting for me to see a freshman show that type of leadership."
Merrill exploded for Miami in the second half to finish with the game high 25 points. Miami also put three others in double figures and after a good second half of rebounding won the battle on the boards by 42-41.-รก
"We had some people step up tonight, it's just we don't do it at the right time," Roller said. "The last five minutes I don't think we really had anybody step up."
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