Alex Richard scores 28 points, Ball State women win MAC championship with 65-58 victory over Toledo
CLEVELAND (AP) — Alex Richard had 28 points and nine rebounds to lead No. 1-seed Ball State past third-seeded Toledo 65-58 on Saturday in the championship game of the women's Mid-American Conference Tournament.
The Cardinals advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time, the other trip coming in 2009.
Ball State shot 50% in the third quarter and the Cardinals' 22 points surpassed their first-half output in which they trailed 24-21 at halftime. The Cardinals led 43-40 entering the fourth quarter.
Richard took over from there, scoring 14 of Ball State's first 17 points in the fourth quarter. The quarter opened with an 11-2 run for a 54-42 Ball State lead and it was 60-49 after a couple of free throws by Richard with a little under two minutes remaining.
Like the third quarter, the Cardinals scored 22 points in the fourth.
Richard made 13 of 21 shots and blocked two shots. Ally Becki had 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Ball State (27-7).
Sammi Mikonowicz had 12 points, seven rebounds and five steals for Toledo (24-8). Kendall Carruthers led the Rockets with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and three free throws. Khera Goss added 11 points.
The first half was a defensive battle with Toledo shooting 37.5% and Ball State 38.5%. Both teams were forced into double-digit turnovers, Toledo with 12 and Ball State with 10. Toledo led 24-21 at halftime.
Ball State finished the game at 45% from the field and Toledo shot 43%. Ball State had 17 turnovers and Toledo 19.
Toledo has been to the NCAA Tournament nine times.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
-
Ball State women's basketball defeats Toledo in MAC Championship; final score, takeaways
Ball State women's basketball won the MAC Tournament for with a win over Toledo. How the Cardinals punched their ticket to Women's March Madness:Yahoo Sports - 4h -
Suder's 23 points lead second-seeded Miami (OH) past third-seed Kent State, 72-64 in MAC semifinals
Led by Peter Suder's 23 points, the second-seeded Miami (OH) RedHawks beat third-seeded Kent State 72-64 in the Mid-American Conference semifinalsABC News - 20h -
Miami (OH) tops Ball State 79-66 in Mid-American Conference regular-season finale
Led by Kam Craft's 19 points, the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks defeated the Ball State Cardinals 79-66 in a Mid-American Conference regular-season finaleABC News - Mar. 7 -
Johnson scores 31, Akron beats Toledo 100-90 in Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinals
The Akron Zips defeated the Toledo Rockets 100-90 in the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Friday led by Nate Johnson's 31 pointsABC News - 22h -
Hornets make franchise-record 26 3s and Ball has 27 points and 14 assists in 145-134 win over Spurs
LaMelo Ball had 27 points and 14 assists, and the Charlotte Hornets made a franchise-record 26 3-pointers to roll past the San Antonio Spurs 145-134 on Friday night. Nick Smith Jr. scored a ...Yahoo Sports - 20h -
Lendeborg's 30 points lead third-seeded UAB past No. 6 seed East Carolina 94-77 in AAC quarterfinals
Yaxel Lendeborg's 30 points led third-seeded UAB past sixth-seeded East Carolina 94-77 on Friday in the American Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals. UAB will take on No. 2 seed North ...Yahoo Sports - 18h -
Nikola Priede's 20 points help Vermont women beat Albany 62-55 for the America East tourney title
Nikola Priede scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help No. 2 seed Vermont beat top-seeded Albany 62-55 on Friday night in the championship game of the America East Tournament. Vermont ...Yahoo Sports - 23h -
Jamiya Neal’s 19 lead Creighton over UConn 71-62 in Big East Conference Tournament
Solomon Ball led the Huskies (23-10) in scoring, finishing with 13 points. Liam McNeeley added 13 points for UConn. Hassan Diarra had 11 points and six rebounds.Yahoo Sports - 17h -
Lendeborg's 30 points lead third-seeded UAB past No. 6 seed East Carolina 94-77 in AAC quarterfinals
The third-seeded UAB Blazers defeated the No. 6 seed East Carolina Pirates 94-77 in the American Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinalsABC News - 17h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
France overpower Scotland in Paris to deny England the Six Nations title
France did not quite hit the heights of their Dublin demolition last weekend, but Les Bleus did enough on a nervy night in Paris to clinch a second Six Nations title in four years – and kill off ...Yahoo Sports - 29m -
Long balls, pitching dominance help FSU finish sweep of BC in doubleheader
FSU dominated with a run-rule blowout and then a pitching gem to close out a sweep of Boston College Saturday.Yahoo Sports - 31m -
Athletic Club star left out of squad for Sevilla clash
A leading member of the defensive ranks at La Liga outfit Athletic Club has been left out of the club’s squad for their upcoming meeting with Sevilla.The player in question? Aitor Paredes.Ernesto ...Yahoo Sports - 31m -
Clayton scores 22 as No. 4 Florida beats No. 5 Alabama 104-82 in SEC semis
Yahoo Sports - 31m -
Florida Gators men's basketball advances to SEC Tournament title game with blowout of Bama
Things started off competitive, but the Florida Gators ran away with it in the second half of an SEC Tournament semifinal matchup against Alabama.Yahoo Sports - 31m
More in Sports
-
Injured Arkansas star Boogie Fland cleared to resume basketball activities, could return for NCAA Tournament
Fland, a potential first-round pick, has been out since mid-January with a hand injuryCBS Sports - 28m -
2025 NASCAR Las Vegas race this week predictions, odds: Model that hit 19 winners gives Pennzoil 400 picks
SportsLine simulated the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway 10,000 times. Use its projected leaderboard for NASCAR picks at sites like PrizePicks, DraftKings, and FanDuelCBS Sports - 29m -
France overpower Scotland in Paris to deny England the Six Nations title
France did not quite hit the heights of their Dublin demolition last weekend, but Les Bleus did enough on a nervy night in Paris to clinch a second Six Nations title in four years – and kill off ...Yahoo Sports - 29m -
Duke vs. Louisville prediction, odds, time: 2025 ACC Tournament championship picks from proven model
SportsLine's model simulated Louisville Cardinals vs. Duke Blue Devils in the 2025 ACC Tournament championship matchup on Saturday 10,000 times with Cooper Flagg (ankle) outCBS Sports - 30m -
Long balls, pitching dominance help FSU finish sweep of BC in doubleheader
FSU dominated with a run-rule blowout and then a pitching gem to close out a sweep of Boston College Saturday.Yahoo Sports - 31m