OXFORD, Ohio (Interstat) — In a pivotal Mid-American Conference clash with postseason seeding implications, the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks edged the Ball State Cardinals 68-64 in a women’s basketball game Saturday at Millett Hall. The victory, witnessed by 1,904 fans, avenged a 20-point loss the Redhawks suffered in Muncie just four weeks prior and tightened the race atop the conference standings. Miami (Ohio) improved to 22-5 overall, while Ball State dropped to 22-6. The game was ultimately decided by perimeter shooting and a critical late-game sequence. Miami (Ohio) connected on 12 of 28 attempts from 3-point range, a 42.9% clip, while Ball State managed only 4 of 18 from beyond the arc. The Redhawks’ efficiency from deep offset Ball State’s dominant 42-24 advantage in points in the paint. Ball State’s Tessa Towers, a 6-foot-3 center, was a force inside, finishing with a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds. Her teammate, Grace Kingery, added 19 points and seven rebounds. But their efforts were countered by Miami (Ohio)’s dynamic guard Tamar Singer, who led all scorers with 25 points, including five 3-pointers, to go along with three rebounds and three assists. The contest featured 10 lead changes and was tied on nine occasions, reflecting the tense, back-and-forth nature of the matchup. Ball State held a narrow 24-27 lead at halftime, but the third quarter proved to be a dramatic turning point. Both offenses erupted, combining for 53 points. Miami (Ohio) outscored Ball State 27-26 in the period, fueled by a 10-2 run late in the quarter that gave the Redhawks a 54-49 lead heading into the final 10 minutes. The most decisive sequence occurred in the fourth quarter with Miami (Ohio) protecting a 63-60 lead. Ball State’s Grace Kingery committed a turnover with just over four minutes remaining, which was stolen by Miami (Ohio)’s Ilse de Vries. On the ensuing possession, de Vries hit a clutch jump shot off an assist from Singer, extending the lead to 65-60 with 3:48 on the clock. Ball State never recovered. The Cardinals missed their next four field goal attempts, and Singer delivered the final dagger, sinking a 3-pointer with 1:44 remaining to push the Redhawks’ advantage to 68-60. Ball State scored the final four points of the game but ran out of time. De Vries, a 6-foot-3 forward from the Netherlands, was instrumental for Miami (Ohio) with 14 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. For Ball State, Aniss Tagayi posted 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Bree Salenbien contributed 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Both teams were plagued by turnovers, with Ball State committing 22 and Miami (Ohio) giving the ball away 20 times. The Redhawks converted those into 19 points, while the Cardinals scored 17 off turnovers. Statistically, the game was remarkably even in several categories. Both teams made 26 field goals, with Miami (Ohio) taking two fewer attempts. Ball State held a slight edge in offensive rebounds, 11-7, and blocks, 7-3. Assists and steals were nearly identical, with Miami (Ohio) holding a 14-13 advantage in assists and a 14-13 edge in steals. The win solidifies Miami (Ohio)’s position in the upper tier of the MAC as the regular season enters its final stretch. Ball State, which had won eight of its last nine games entering the contest, will look to regroup quickly with another conference test looming. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Ball State entered the game with a 55% probability of victory. The result flipped that expectation and sets up a compelling finish to the conference schedule for both teams.