MUNCIE, Ind. (Interstat) — Ball State held off a late Eastern Michigan rally for a 78-74 victory in a Mid-American Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals built a 64-57 lead after three quarters behind 21 points each from Grace Kingery and Tessa Towers. The Eagles, led by Sisi Eleko’s 20 points and Fernanda Ovalle’s 22 points, closed to within one point in the final minutes but could not complete the comeback. Ball State secured the win at the free-throw line, making 15 of 22 attempts. Ball State improved to 9-4 overall. Eastern Michigan dropped to 6-5. An announced crowd of 3,503 attended.

MUNCIE, Ind. (Interstat) — In a game that defied pregame projections, the Ball State Cardinals survived a furious second-half rally from Eastern Michigan to secure a 78-74 victory in a Mid-American Conference women’s basketball thriller Saturday at Worthen Arena. A crowd of 3,503 saw the Cardinals improve to 9-4 overall, while the Eagles fell to 6-5. The result was a stark contrast to the statistical prediction, which had favored Ball State with a 98.7% probability of winning. The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the final 15 seconds with Ball State clinging to a 77-74 lead. Eastern Michigan’s Brooklyn Thrash missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer with three seconds remaining. Ball State’s Karsyn Norman secured the defensive rebound and was immediately fouled. Norman missed the first free throw but calmly sank the second to extend the lead to four points, effectively sealing the outcome as time expired. Ball State established control early, using a 12-2 run in the first quarter to build a lead it would never fully relinquish. The Cardinals led 22-14 after the opening period and maintained a 41-39 advantage at halftime despite Eastern Michigan’s 25-point second quarter. The third quarter saw Ball State push its lead to double digits, outscoring the Eagles 23-18 to take a 64-57 edge into the final frame. Eastern Michigan’s resilience surfaced in the fourth quarter, as the Eagles chipped away at the deficit. A 3-pointer from Fernanda Ovalle with 2:41 remaining cut the Ball State lead to 75-74, setting the stage for the tense finish. Grace Kingery, named the top star for Ball State, delivered a clutch performance with 21 points, including two critical free throws with 12 seconds left that pushed the lead to three. She added two rebounds and an assist. She was joined by Tessa Towers, who also scored 21 points and grabbed four rebounds. Eastern Michigan was led by a dominant performance from Sisi Eleko, who scored 20 points and collected four rebounds. Ovalle was instrumental in the comeback attempt, finishing with 22 points, four rebounds and five assists. Peyton Hill added 15 points and four assists for the Eagles. Ball State’s offense was facilitated by Norman, who dished out eight assists to go with seven points and four rebounds. Zhen Verburgt provided a key spark off the bench with nine points. The game was a tale of runs and responses. Each time Eastern Michigan threatened, Ball State found an answer, often from Kingery or Towers in the paint. The Cardinals’ ability to handle the Eagles’ full-court pressure in the final minutes and convert at the free-throw line proved decisive. Eastern Michigan will look to rebound when it hosts Bowling Green on Dec. 30. Ball State concludes its non-conference schedule at Akron on Dec. 31 before resuming MAC play.

Preview: Eastern Michigan Eagles at Ball State Cardinals MUNCIE, Ind. (Interstat) — A Mid-American Conference women’s basketball clash featuring two of the league’s top post players will tip off Saturday when the Ball State Cardinals host the Eastern Michigan Eagles at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals (8-4) enter with the better overall record but are looking to snap a three-game skid, all coming on the road against tough non-conference foes. Their most recent outing was a 78-59 loss at South Dakota State on Dec. 14. Ball State has been strong at home this season, boasting a 4-1 record in Muncie. Eastern Michigan (6-4) also seeks to rebound from a road loss to a power conference opponent, falling 74-67 at Indiana on Dec. 14. The Eagles have won four of their last six games. The matchup inside will be pivotal, headlined by Eastern Michigan’s Sisi Eleko and Ball State’s Tessa Towers. Eleko, a dominant force, is averaging a double-double and is coming off a 15-point, 18-rebound performance against Indiana. Over her last five games, she has recorded four double-doubles, including a 23-point, 14-rebound effort against Robert Morris. Towers provides a versatile scoring punch for Ball State. She led the Cardinals with 17 points in their last game against South Dakota State and posted a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Pittsburgh last month. Her ability to stretch the floor will test Eastern Michigan’s interior defense. Ball State’s offense has shown high potency, scoring 119 points in a win over Oakland City on Dec. 3, but has faced recent challenges against stiffer competition. The Cardinals will rely on guards like Bree Salenbien, who had 12 points and six assists in the last game, to facilitate. Eastern Michigan counters with a balanced attack behind Eleko. Guard Fernanda Ovalle scored 16 points against Indiana, and Ainhoa Cea dished out six assists in that contest. Historically, this early conference matchup could set a tone for the MAC season. Ball State will aim to leverage its home-court advantage, while Eastern Michigan looks to steal a road victory behind its star forward. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon.