Cardinals Soar to Victory with Unyielding Defense Against Golden Flashes in Thrilling Midweek #MACtion Showdown

KENT, Ohio – In yet another fiercely contested Mid-American Conference encounter, Ball State (13-4, 5-0 MAC) emerged victorious with a 66-57 away triumph against Kent State (10-7, 3-2 MAC) on Wednesday evening at the M.A.C Center.  
 
With this victory, Ball State maintains its unbeaten record in MAC competition with a 5-0 standing for the second consecutive season. The Cardinals have also extended their winning streak to seven matches. 
 
It is no surprise that Ball State’s defense significantly contributed to the outcome against Kent State this evening. The Cardinals exhibited near-perfect ball movement, committing just a season-low of seven turnovers. On the defensive end, Ball State compelled Kent State to surrender 17 turnovers and capitalized on those errors by converting them into 18 points. 
 
Kent State began the game strong with an 8-2 run over five minutes, leaving BSU somewhat stunned. The Cardinals’ defense prevented the Golden Flashes from increasing their lead, and BSU’s shots began landing following an Ally Becki layup. From that point, the Cardinals surged ahead 14-2, capped by a Madelyn Bischoff three-pointer, allowing BSU to take a 16-12 advantage into the second quarter.
 
The first half remained thrilling as both squads remained tightly matched in the second quarter. The Golden Flashes tied the game 31-31 with 1:06 left before halftime, but a steal from Grace Kingery allowed the Cardinals to secure the final possession before intermission. Kingery went to the free-throw line and successfully converted both attempts, giving BSU a 33-31 lead at the break. 
 
Ball State intensified its defense in the third period, leading to more opportunities to score. Key steals and crucial defensive rebounds facilitated consecutive three-pointers from Lachelle Austin and Kingery, which extended Ball State’s lead to 13 (49-36) by the 4:58 mark. The Cardinals outscored the Golden Flashes 18-7 to increase their lead to 13 (51-38) as both teams entered the last 10 minutes of play.
 
Kent State started the final 10 minutes with a 12-2 run, narrowing the margin to a 3-point game (53-50) with 5:30 remaining. The Cardinals held their ground, showcasing crucial defensive plays, and restored their lead to eight (60-52) following an Alex Richard layup. 
 
With the score still tight at (60-55) at the 1:39 mark, Maliyah “MJ” Johnson made a layup that ignited a 6-0 run, sealing the victory for Ball State. 
 
During the game, Austin topped the scoring for the Cardinals with 17 points, while Richard concluded the evening with 16. Becki and Kingery each recorded 10 points. 
 
The Ball State women’s basketball squad will continue their Mid-American Conference journey when they take on Akron on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET in Worthen Arena.