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CLEVELAND — Alex Richard had 28 points and nine rebounds to lead No. 1-seed Ball State past third-seeded Toledo 65-58 in the championship game of the women's Mid-American Conference Tournament. The Cardinals advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time, the other trip coming in 2009. Ball State shot 50% in the third quarter and the Cardinals' 22 points surpassed their first-half output in which they trailed 24-21 at halftime. The Cardinals led 43-40 entering the fourth quarter. Richard took over from there, scoring 14 of Ball State's first 17 points in the fourth quarter. The quarter opened with an 11-2 run for a 54-42 Ball State lead and it was 60-49 after a couple of free throws by Richard with a little under two minutes remaining.
