MUNCIE, Ind. (Interstat) — The Ball State Cardinals, showcasing their depth and efficiency, delivered a commanding performance to defeat the Akron Zips 88-55 in a Mid-American Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at Worthen Arena.

The contest was effectively decided by a dominant second-quarter surge from the home team. Leading 17-12 after the first period, Ball State outscored Akron 25-14 in the second frame, building a 42-26 halftime advantage from which the Zips never recovered. The Cardinals maintained their offensive pressure after the break, adding 23 points in both the third and fourth quarters to secure the lopsided victory.

Ball State’s offensive execution proved superior throughout the night. The Cardinals scored 88 points on 85 possessions, translating to an offensive rating of 103.6. In stark contrast, Akron managed only 55 points on 84 possessions, an offensive rating of 65.7. The disparity was rooted in shooting efficiency; Ball State connected on 31 of 74 field goal attempts, while Akron struggled to a 21-for-66 performance from the floor. The Zips were particularly cold from beyond the arc, making just 4 of 29 three-point attempts.

The Cardinals also controlled the interior, outrebounding Akron 15-5 on the offensive glass, which led to numerous second-chance opportunities. Ball State also capitalized at the free-throw line, converting 18 of 23 attempts compared to Akron’s 9 of 12.

Tessa Towers, the 6-foot-5 sophomore from Batavia, Illinois, led all scorers with 19 points for Ball State, adding three assists and a block in just 23 minutes of action. She was instrumental in the first-half run that broke the game open. Aniss Tagayi, a 6-foot guard from Montpellier, France, provided 18 points, while fellow international standout Zhen Verburgt of Antwerp, Belgium, contributed 11 points and four assists. The Cardinals’ balanced attack saw five players reach double figures, including 11 points from Grace Kingery and 10 from Karsyn Norman, who also dished out four assists.

Akron was led by Keiryn McGuff, a 6-foot guard from Dublin, Ohio, who scored 12 points. Liz Murphy, from Yackandandah, Spain, added 11 points for the Zips. The visitors were hampered by 17 turnovers, which Ball State converted into easy transition opportunities.

With the victory, Ball State improved its season record to 23-6 overall and solidified its position near the top of the MAC standings. The Cardinals have now won eight of their last nine games. Akron fell to 7-21 on the season, having lost two of its last three contests. The win completed a season sweep for Ball State over Akron, following a 102-73 victory on Dec. 31.

A crowd of 1,542 at Worthen Arena watched as Ball State methodically dismantled the Zips. The most critical phase of the game was undoubtedly the second quarter, where the Cardinals stretched a five-point lead into a 16-point halftime cushion. During that period, Ball State’s defense tightened, forcing difficult shots and capitalizing on Akron’s offensive droughts with consistent scoring at the other end. This stretch established a game-long rhythm that Akron could never disrupt, allowing Ball State to cruise to its 23rd win of the campaign.

Ball State will look to continue its strong form when it hosts Ohio on Saturday. Akron travels to face Miami (Ohio) on the same day.