MUNCIE, Ind. (Interstat) — The Ball State Cardinals used a dominant second-half performance to pull away from the Massachusetts Minutewomen for a 78-60 victory in a Mid-American Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at Worthen Arena.

The game, witnessed by 1,411 fans, pivoted decisively in the third quarter. After a competitive first half that saw Massachusetts lead 39-33 at the break, Ball State outscored the Minutewomen 24-8 in the pivotal third period to seize control. The Cardinals extended their lead in the fourth quarter to secure the 18-point win, improving their season record to 15-4. Massachusetts fell to 13-4.

The contest began at a frantic pace, with both teams trading baskets in a high-scoring first quarter. Massachusetts guard Yahmani McKayle, a 5-foot-6 sophomore from Queens, New York, was electric early, scoring 11 of her game-high 20 points in the opening period. Her driving layup and free throw with under a minute left gave the Minutewomen a 25-21 lead after one.

The second quarter saw Massachusetts maintain its edge, primarily through the outside shooting of Allie Palmieri. The 5-10 guard from Trumbull, Connecticut, hit a pair of three-pointers in the quarter, helping Massachusetts withstand Ball State’s attempts to close the gap. The Minutewomen shot efficiently in the first half, building their six-point lead despite Ball State’s Tessa Towers and Bree Salenbien combining for 15 points.

The entire complexion of the game changed after halftime. Ball State’s defense locked down, forcing Massachusetts into a series of rushed shots and turnovers. The Minutewomen managed only eight points in the quarter on 3-of-13 shooting from the floor. Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ offense found its rhythm. A 12-2 run to open the half, capped by a Grace Kingery three-pointer, gave Ball State a lead it would not relinquish. Kingery, a 5-11 guard from North Ridgeville, Ohio, scored eight of her 14 points in the third quarter, while the Cardinals’ interior presence, led by 6-3 forward Alba Caballero of Ciudad Real, Spain, began to overwhelm Massachusetts.

Caballero finished with 11 points, two blocks, and was a force on the defensive end. Ball State’s balance was on full display, with four players scoring in double figures. Salenbien, a 6-2 forward from Adrian, Michigan, tallied 14 points and six assists. Aniss Tagayi, a 6-0 guard from Montpellier, France, orchestrated the offense with 11 points and five assists, and Karsyn Norman, a 5-6 guard from Bedford, Indiana, added 12 points off the bench.

McKayle’s 20 points and five assists led Massachusetts, but she received limited support as the Cardinals tightened their defense. Palmieri finished with 14 points, and Lilly Ferguson from Newington, Connecticut, added 10, but the Minutewomen’s offense stagnated after halftime. Ball State’s defensive adjustments, particularly in containing dribble penetration and closing out on shooters, were the catalyst for the game-changing run.

The Cardinals continued to apply pressure in the fourth quarter, pushing their lead to as many as 21 points. Massachusetts never mounted a serious threat, scoring 13 points in the final period but unable to string together consecutive stops to cut meaningfully into the deficit.

The victory solidified Ball State’s position in the MAC standings, while Massachusetts will look to rebound from its second conference loss. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Ball State entered the game with an 88.6 percent probability to win, a projection borne out by their commanding second-half display.

Massachusetts next plays at Ohio on Jan. 28. Ball State will host Miami (Ohio) on Saturday.