Ball State University Athletics
WBB Hosts Western Michigan In MAC Action Saturday
January 09, 2015 | Women's Basketball
Worthen Arena (Capacity 11,500)
Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015 at 2 p.m. (EST)
Muncie, Ind.
• Radio Fox Sports 102.9 FM/1340 AM (Jay Garrison & Mark Foerster)
• Radio Tyler Bradfield and Peter Hoffman
• Internet www.ballstatesports.com
The Cardinals Nest
- For the first time since 2012-13 the Ball State women's basketball team has started Mid-American Conference play with a 2-0 record. Ball State defeated Miami 72-41 Wednesday night in Worthen Arena. The Cardinals' head coach Brady Sallee improved to 3-0 over Miami and Ball State will face the RedHawks again later this month in Oxford, Ohio Jan. 28. Nathalie Fontaine led the Cardinals with 27 points, three shy of her career high. She made 10-of-15 field goals and 7-of-8 free throws. The Cardinals new defense after the holiday break has played a big part in their success which was apparent against Miami, after Ball State forced the RedHawks into 31 turnovers and enjoyed a 29-5 advantage in points off those miscues. Lone senior Shelbie Justice also scored in double figures ending the night with 15 points off of 6-of-9 shooting from the field. Ball State continues to out shoot its opponents this season, including a 47.5 to 41.7 advantage over Miami. The Cardinals also scored 44 to the RedHawk's 20 points in the paint. Ball State continues its three-game league home stretch Saturday when the Cardinals host Western Michigan at 2 p.m. in Worthen Arena. The game is part of a doubleheader with the men's basketball team who will host Central Michigan at 4:30 p.m.
- Western Michigan is a much improved basketball program bringing a 9-4 overall record and a 2-0 conference mark to Worthen Arena Saturday. The Broncos have knocked off UMASS (63-41), North Dakota (74-59), Chicago State (73-43), Kentucky State (70-45), Trine (81-45), Detroit (71-57), Holy Cross (51-40), Akron (67-61) and Ohio (61-51) so far this season. Both Akron and Ohio are the top teams to beat in the MAC East Division.
- Saturday's game against Western Michigan will mark the 73rd time in program history the two schools have met with Ball State leading the series 38-34. Last season, the Cardinals swept the Broncos winning 56-43 (Jan. 29) in Worthen Arena and 79-73 (March 1) in Kalamazoo. Ball State owns a 17-5 ledger over Western Michigan dating back to the 2004-05 season. Brady Sallee is a perfect 4-0 against the Broncos.
