The University of Iowa women’s basketball team’s comeback bid fell short in a 77-72 loss to Ball State on Thursday night in the opening round of the WNIT. HawkeyeSports.com reports the Hawkeyes trailed by as many as 16 points early in the third quarter and by 13 (59-46) with 1:24 left before building some momentum with the quarter’s final five points. Freshman Megan Gustafson’s layup cut the lead to 11 and sophomore Whitney Jennings hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to get Iowa to within single digits at 59-51.

Iowa finished with a 42.6 field goal percentage; Ball State shot 42.9 percent. The Cardinals made 5-of-12 3-pointers, four coming in the first half, and finished 18-of-24 from the free throw stripe. Iowa was 7-of-18 from 3-point range and 13-of-19 from the free throw line.

The Hawkeyes committed just two more turnovers (12-10), but Ball State turned the Iowa miscues into 15 points. Iowa had four players finish in double figures with Gustafson leading the way with 22 points and 12 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season. She made 9-of-15 field goals and eight of her rebounds came on the offensive glass. Ally Disterhoft finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Jennings and Davis had 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Iowa finishes the 2015-16 season with a 19-14 overall record.