Ball State University Athletics
Fontaine Pre-Season All-MAC, WBB Picked Second
October 29, 2014 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - For the second straight season, the Ball State women's basketball team has been picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference West Division Preseason Poll, while junior Nathalie Fontaine was named to the All-MAC West Division Preseason Team, which was announced by the league office.
"I am happy to see Nathalie recognized, clearly she has earned the accolade and I look forward to seeing her progress during her junior season,” Ball State head women's basketball coach Brady Sallee said. "We don't put a lot of thought into where we're picked or for that matter, where anyone else is picked in the pre-season.” “Our sole focus is on worrying about what we can control every day in practice."
The Cardinals ended the 2013-14 season with an 18-17 overall mark and a 9-9 MAC ledger. After a thrilling run to the 2014 MAC Tournament Championship Game, Ball State was extended an at-large invitation to play in the 64-team Women's National Invitation Tournament.
Sallee, who completed his second season at Ball State, became only the second coach in program history to take the Cardinals to back-to-back WNITs. The last time it happened was 2001-02 and 2002-03 under former head coach Tracy Roller.
Fontaine, a two-time All-MAC Second Team honoree and preseason All-MAC recipient, averaged a team-best 16.4 points per game last season while collecting 6.5 rebounds per contest. She starts her junior campaign off with 997 career points and became only the second player in program history to reach 900 points as a sophomore. Tamara Bowie (1999-2000) was the first to accomplish the feat with 943. Fontaine also averaged the most points in the MAC Tournament for the Cardinals, at 15.8, while adding 6.8 rebounds per contest. Fontaine has scored in double digits 56 times out of 66 career games. She has also managed 12 career 20-point performances, along with one 30-point showing.
The Ball State women's basketball team will host an exhibition game Nov. 4, against Oakland City before opening the regular season against Big Ten foe Purdue Nov. 14, in Worthen Arena. Tipoff for both games will be at 7 p.m.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's basketball, follow @bsuathletics, @BallStateWBB and BSUCoachBrady on Twitter.
2014-15 MAC East Predicted Order of Finish
1.Buffalo (8 First Place Votes)
2.Bowling Green (3)
3.Akron
4.Ohio (1)
5.Miami
6.Kent State
2014-15 MAC West Predicted Order of Finish
1.Central Michigan (11)
2.Ball State (1)
3.Western Michigan
4.Toledo
5.Eastern Michigan
6.Northern Illinois
2015 MAC Tournament Predicted Champion
1.Central Michigan (10)
2.Ball State & Buffalo (1)
Preseason All-MAC East Team
Sina King, Akron
Erica Donovan, Bowling Green
Mackenzie Loesing, Buffalo
Kristin Sharkey, Buffalo
Kiyanna Black, Ohio
Preseason All-MAC West Team
Nathalie Fontaine, Ball State
Crystal Bradford, Central Michigan
Cha Sweeney, Eastern Michigan
Inma Zanoguera, Toledo
Miracle Woods, Western Michigan
