Final Stats
MUNCIE, IN - Toledo (9-13, 4-8 MAC) sustained a 64-49 setback at Ball State (14-9, 7-5 MAC) on Wednesday night at Worthen Arena.
The Rockets led 30-22 at the intermission, but were outscored, 42-19, in the second half. It is the fifth time this season UT has held a halftime lead and lost. The Cardinals shot an impressive 59.1 percent (13-of-22) in the final 20 minutes and were 14-of-20 from the free-throw line, while the Rockets limited to 27.3 percent (6-of-22) shooting from the floor.
Senior Crystal Young and junior Danielle Bishop shared team honors for the Rockets with 13 points apiece. Toledo finished the game shooting 35.2 percent (19-of-54).
Toledo looked good early as Bishop and Young combined to score 10 of its first 13 points and the Rockets led 13-9. Back-to-back layups by Young increased the visitor's advantage to 25-15 with 4:58 left and forced BSU into a timeout. UT built its double-digit advantage as the Cardinals suffered through a five-minute scoring drought and the Midnight Blue and Gold had an eight-point cushion at the intermission. Toledo held an 18-4 edge in points in the paint and recorded 10 steals.
BSU opened the opening half with an 8-2 run to close the gap to 32-30 and made UT Head Coach Mark Ehlen take an early timeout The Cardinals' Raechelle Hampton then split a pair of free throws to knot the score at 36-36 with 12:36 remaining in regulation.
Ball State continued to make a run and Kelsey Corbin scored eight of its next 11 points to up the home team's advantage to 47-38 with 7:58 left. The Rockets did not record their 10th point in the second half until Young drained two free throws with only 6:39 showing on the clock. Ball State then finished off the Rockets when Kiley Jarrett drained a three pointer with the shot clock expiring to increase their lead to 14 points, 52-38. The closest UT would get the remainder of the contest was 10 with five minutes left. Toledo did not take care of the basketball in the second half, dishing out two assists, compared to 11 turnovers.
Becca Bajorek and Corbin shared high honors for BSU with 16 points each. Julie DeMuth added 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds off the bench. Ball State also held a 41-28 edge on the boards, including 28-19 on the defensive glass.
The Rockets return to action on Saturday, Feb. 18 to battle MAC West Division leader Eastern Michigan. Tipoff from Savage Hall is slated for 7:00 p.m.
