Ball State University Athletics
WBB Hosts Miami In MAC Action Saturday
January 07, 2016 | Women's Basketball
The Cardinals Nest
- Ball State returns home for a two-game Mid-American Conference homestand when it hosts Miami Saturday at 2 p.m. in Worthen Arena. Miami is the closest MAC opponent that Ball State will face all season. The distance between the two schools' is approximately one hour and 32 minutes. The Cardinals will host Buffalo Wednesday at 7 p.m.
- The Cardinals suffered their first loss in four games after suffering a 73-48 loss at Mid-American Conference Tournament champion Ohio Wednesday night at the Convocation Center. Ball State was plagued by 26 turnovers and had one of their worst shooting performances of the season (32.7). Senior guard Nathalie Fontaine was held under 20 points for the first time in eight games after scoring 15 points on the night.
- The Cardinals opened their 35th Mid-American Conference campaign on Jan. 2 with an 75-69 victory over Toledo at home in Worthen Arena. Ball State overcame an early 17-point deficit to beat the Rockets. With the win, Ball State improved to 9-3 and remained undefeated at home with a 6-0 ledger. This is the second-straight season the Cardinals have won their conference opener.
.- After 13 games, three different Cardinals are averaging in double figures in scoring, led by Nathalie Fontaine at 22.8 points per game. Jill Morrison (11.8) and Moriah Monaco (11.5) are also averaging double figures each contest. Fontaine is also averaging a double-double, pulling down 10.2 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.
- Head coach Brady Sallee emphasis how important points in the paint mean to him and the Cardinals have listened this season. Ball State has outscored all of their opponents in the paint but four 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), Ball State vs. Saint Louis (22-to-24), Ball State vs. Toledo (28-to-28) and Ball State vs. Ohio (20-to-24).
