Ball State women's basketball defeats Toledo in MAC Championship; final score, takeaways
Ball State women's basketball is going dancing.
The Cardinals (27-7) defeated Toledo, 65-58, in the MAC Championship on Saturday to punch their first ticket to March Madness since 2009.
As is to be expected in the tournament final, it was the closest, most intense matchup that Ball State faced in the tournament. The Cardinals struggled early on against the aggressive defense of the Rockets (24-8), but they overcame those struggles and pulled away in the fourth quarter.
More: Ball State women's basketball gets revenge on Kent State, advances to MAC final
More: MAC Women's Basketball Tournament bracket: Full TV schedule, seedings for 2025 championship
It was a second-straight revenge game for Ball State, as Toledo handed the Cardinals their first MAC loss on Feb. 19. With wins over Kent State and Toledo in the semifinal and final, respectively, Ball State defeated the only two MAC teams it lost to during the regular season to claim the conference title.
Here are some more takeaways from Ball State's MAC Championship victory over Toledo:
Ball State women's basketball overcomes 3-point woes
It was far from the most efficient shooting performance for Ball State. The Cardinals went 0-of-6 on 3-pointers in the first half and finished just 3-of-12 overall from beyond the arc.
However, Ball State excelled in the post and in the midrange, finishing with 40 points in the paint. The aggressiveness on the inside also created opportunities at the free throw line, where the Cardinals shot 10-of-11 (90.9%) compared to just 3-of-5 for Toledo.
Alex Richard takes over
Ball State only scored 21 points and shot 38.5% from the field in the first half. With Toledo shooting the ball much better from distance and maintaining momentum with their defensive stops, the Cardinals needed someone to step up on offense.
That someone was senior forward Alex Richard, who has made a habit of coming through in those moments in recent weeks. Richard scored 24 of her 28 points in the second half and was the main reason Ball State was so dominant in the paint and midrange. She also had nine rebounds — five defensive and four offensive.
Turnovers galore
With the defensive aggressiveness on both sides, both the Cardinals and Rockets struggled to take care of the ball. Ball State finished with 17 turnovers, a mark it hit just three other times in MAC play. However, it still won the turnover battle by forcing 19 turnovers from Toledo. The Cardinals outscored the Rockets 16-12 on points off turnovers.
What's next for Ball State women's basketball?
Ball State is headed to the NCAA Women's Tournament for just the second time in school history. Ball State will wait to hear its name called on Selection Sunday, which will air live on ESPN Sunday, March 16 at 8 p.m. ET.
Contact Cade Hampton via email at cbhampton@muncie.gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CadeHamp10.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ball State women's basketball wins MAC title; final score, takeaways
Topics
-
Alex Richard scores 28 points, Ball State women win MAC championship with 65-58 victory over Toledo
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. ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Ball State women's basketball tickets for 2025 NCAA Women's Tournament: Prices, how to buy
Want to buy tickets to Ball State women's basketball's NCAA Tournament opener? Here's how, including prices for Women's March Madness tickets:Yahoo Sports - 11h -
How to buy Kentucky women’s basketball tickets for 2025 March Madness
Want to buy tickets for the Kentucky women’s basketball NCAA Tournament 2025 opener vs. Liberty? Here’s how, including prices for March Madness.Yahoo Sports - 11h -
Vermont women's basketball punches ticket to March Madness, captures America East title
Vermont women's basketball broke the halftime tie early in the third quarter and never trailed again to punch its ticket to March Madness on Friday.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Pitt State Women’s Basketball punches ticket to NCAA D-II Sweet 16 with win over Minnesota State Mankato 94-91
PITTSBURG, KS — The Pitt State Gorillas entered the evening coming off of a first round NCAA D-II Central Region Tournament win over Harding University. Karenna Gerber posted 29 points and 11 ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
NC State women’s basketball to face Vermont to open March Madness in 2025 NCAA Tournament
NC State women's basketball earned the No. 2 seed in the Spokane Regional for March Madness. Here's more.Yahoo Sports - 13h -
Oklahoma State women's basketball will face South Dakota State to open March Madness
It’s Oklahoma State women’s basketball vs. South Dakota State in March Madness to open the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Here’s what to know about the first-round game in Storrs, Conn.Yahoo Sports - 12h -
Iowa State women’s basketball March Madness predictions: Where Cyclones could land in NCAA bracket
Where Iowa State women’s basketball’s March Madness predictions stand on Selection Sunday, when the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Vermont women's basketball will face NC State to open March Madness: Bracket update
It's UVM women's basketball vs. NC State in March Madness to open the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Here’s what to know about the first-round game in RaleighYahoo Sports - 12h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
USC NCAA Tournament opener will be on Saturday, March 22 at Galen Center
The Trojans will open the tournament against UNC Greensboro on Saturday at high noon in Los AngelesYahoo Sports - 13m -
PSG win over Marseille marred by homophobic, racist chants. It's an ongoing problem in French soccer
A French campaign group has called on the country's authorities to punish homophobic and racist chanting after the biggest match in the league between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille was marred ...Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Can Oregon basketball reach Final Four in March Madness bracket? Our prediction
Can Oregon basketball reach NCAA bracket’s Final Four? Our 2025 March Madness predictions show how Ducks can make run in tournament.Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Broncos have 35 players set to become free agents in 2026
The Broncos have 35 players scheduled to become free agents in 2026.Yahoo Sports - 15m -
NFL analyst says Rams overpaid for this free agent
The Rams have spent a lot of money this offseason, but did they overpay?Yahoo Sports - 15m
More in Sports
-
March Madness 2025: Duke's Cooper Flagg, Texas' Tre Johnson headline list of top freshmen in the tournament
Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, headlines a star-studded group of freshmen in the NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 9m -
NCAA Tournament fields set; TPC playoff underway; Bengals extend star wide receivers
Auburn has the top overall seed in the men's field, while UCLA leads the women's drawCBS Sports - 9m -
2025 MLB Opening Day starter tracker: Paul Skenes gets call for Pirates, Astros go with Framber Valdez again
The regular season is almost upon us and managers are getting their ducks (and rotations) in a rowCBS Sports - 11m -
USC NCAA Tournament opener will be on Saturday, March 22 at Galen Center
The Trojans will open the tournament against UNC Greensboro on Saturday at high noon in Los AngelesYahoo Sports - 13m -
PSG win over Marseille marred by homophobic, racist chants. It's an ongoing problem in French soccer
A French campaign group has called on the country's authorities to punish homophobic and racist chanting after the biggest match in the league between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille was marred ...Yahoo Sports - 15m