MUNCIE, Ind. – The Miami University women's basketball team (8-11, 1-6 MAC) fell by an 80-63 margin at Ball State on Saturday.
Lauren Dickerson led the Miami offense with her second-straight and sixth 20-point game this season. She also led the team with nine rebounds.
Savannah Kluesner scored in double figures with 13 points.
Kluesner made the first basket of the ball game before Ball State put together a 7-0 run to take a 7-2 lead after three minutes of play. Miami scored the game's next six points to take an 8-7 lead into the first quarter media timeout. Kluesner had six of Miami's eight points at the time.
The Cardinals had the first two baskets following the media timeout to take an 11-8 lead before Kluesner cut the Ball State lead to one point with two minutes to play in the first quarter. The Cardinals scored the final four points of the quarter to lead 15-10 after 10 minutes of play.
Miami scored the first seven points of the second quarter to take a 17-15 lead with 7:40 to play in the first half. The RedHawk defense held Ball State without a point for more than four minutes before the Cardinals could get on the board to tie the game with 5:38 remaining in the half.
Kluesner was the first player in the game to reach double figures, doing so midway through the second quarter. Following the basket by Kluesner, the Cardinals went on an 11-2 run to take a 28-21 lead with two minutes to play in the first half.
Kluesner had the final three Miami points of the second quarter as she went 5-of-6 from the charity stripe in the first half. The RedHawks faced a 32-24 deficit going into the locker room despite a 22-17 advantage on the boards.
After struggling from behind the arc in the first half, Miami sunk five from long range in the third quarter.
Kenzie Schmitz had the first three-pointer to open the second half.
The Cardinals responded with a three-pointer and a basket to increase their lead to 10 points. Dickerson sunk two three-pointers before three-straight baskets by Ball State made the lead 10 once again.
Every time Miami made a push, Ball State answered.
Abbey Hoff made a three-pointer with a couple minutes to play in the third quarter as the RedHawk defense went on a three-minute stretch holding the Cardinals without a bucket.
Miami trailed Ball State by a 51-43 margin after three quarters.
Peyton Scott led off the fourth quarter with a pair of free throws before Ball State went on a 6-0 run to increase its lead back to double digits, 57-45, with 7:27 to play. An 8-2 Cardinals run gave Ball State a 65-50 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Ball State made six free throws in the final three minutes to seal the 80-63 victory.
Miami returns home to host Western Michigan on Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
