Ball State University Athletics
WBB Opens MAC Action At Home Saturday Against Toledo
December 31, 2015 | Women's Basketball
The Cardinals Nest
- Toledo brings a 5-6 ledger to Ball State for Saturday's competition, winning at home against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (74-47) Dec. 29. The Rockets are currently on a five-game win streak after opening their season with six straight losses. Toledo owns a 3-4 road record this season.
- Saturday's game against Toledo will mark the 74th time in program history the two schools have met with the Rockets leading the all-time series 46-27. The last time the Cardinals defeated Toledo in Worthen Arena was March 7, 2015 by a score of 71-55. The Rockets have won eight of the last 11 meetings over the Cardinals from 2010-present. Ball State went 2-0 against Toledo last season. The last time the Cardinals opened league action against the Rockets at home was in 2006-07 on January 3, resulting in a 80-59 win for Ball State. The Cardinals are 2-1 in conference openers under head coach Brady Sallee.
- After 11 games, three different Cardinals are averaging in double figures in scoring, led by Nathalie Fontaine at 23.6 points per game. Jill Morrison (12.5) and Moriah Monaco (112.3) are also averaging double figures each contest. Fontaine is also close to averaging a double-double, pulling down 9.7 rebounds per contest.
- Senior guard Nathalie Fontaine broke the Ball State women's basketball single-game scoring record after a career-high 43-point performance in the Cardinals 73-53 victory at Evansville, Dec. 21. Fontaine becomes the first Cardinal in 12 years to break the single-game scoring record, which was held by former women's basketball player Tama Bowie (1999-2003). Bowie scored 40 points twice, once in 2003 and in 2001. Fontaine's 43-points was the most scored in the Ford Center since it opened in 2011. Fontaine has scored 20 or more points in her last seven contests and was named Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week for the third time this season on Dec. 28.
- Head coach Brady Sallee emphasis how important points in the paint meanto him and the Cardinals have listened this season. Ball State has outscored all of their opponents in the paint but one this season. Ball State vs. Charlotte (30-to-8), Ball State vs. Western Kentucky (30-to-14), Ball State vs. Austin Peay (30-to-18), Ball State vs. Florida (42-to-30), Ball State vs. UMass (30-to-16), Ball State vs. Ohio Valley (62-to-10), Ball State vs. Butler (26-to-12), Ball State vs. Lipscomb (30-to-14), Ball State vs. Purdue (32-fo-26), Ball State vs. Evansville (32-to-8) and Ball State vs. Saint Louis (22-to-24).
