Ball State University Athletics
WBB Returns To The MAC West At NIU Wednesday
February 17, 2016 | Women's Basketball
The Cardinals Nest
- Ball State women's basketball hits the road to take on Northern Illinois on Wednesday, Feb. 17 for a Mid-American Conference West Division matchup with the Huskies. The Cardinals look to rebound after two straight losses last week to Central Michigan (74-65) and Kent State (59-50). It was the first time the Cardinals had lost two games in a row all season. After Wednesday's contest, Ball State has three conference regular season road games remaining on the schedule at Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Toledo.
- Despite the two losses last week for Ball State, one Cardinal continued to shine and that was senior forward Nathalie Fontaine. Fontaine was named Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week, marking the 12th time Fontaine has earned the honor in her career and the sixth time this season. For the week, Fontaine averaged 28.5 points per game and 12.0 rebounds. Fontaine has now reached 2,000 career points, making her only the second player in program history (Tamara Bowie is first with 2,091 points) to reach that milestone and the 15th player in MAC women's basketball history.
-The last time Ball State went 10-2 at home was in 2006-07 under former head women's basketball coach Tracy Roller. That season the Cardinals went 10-1 in John E. Worthen Arena with Ball State's only loss coming against Ohio (66-77) on Jan. 27, 2007. Ball State also posted a 14-1 mark at home in 2008-09 under former head coach Kelly Packard with the only loss coming against Temple.
- Head coach Brady Sallee emphasizes how important points in the paint are 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), Ball State vs. Ohio (20-to-24), Ball State vs. Miami (34-to-16), Ball State vs. Buffalo (32-to-16), Ball State vs. Bowling Green (24-to-18), Ball State vs. Eastern Michigan (34-to-22), Ball State vs. Western Michigan (36-to-26), Ball State vs. Ohio (30-to-18), Ball State vs. Akron (36-to-30), Ball State vs. Buffalo (26-to-24), Ball State vs. Central Michigan (34-to-26) and Ball State vs. Kent State (28-to-12).
- Did you know the Cardinals only lost two games in 2012-13 in the month of February. Ball State started the month with back-to-back wins on the road at Eastern Michigan and at home over Central Michigan. The Cardinals lost to Toledo and Akron before ending the month with three straight wins. The Cardinals went cold in 2013-14 in the month of February with a 2-5 record. Ball State started last season off hot with a 5-0 mark and only suffered two losses last season in February. This year the Cardinals are off to a 2-2 start.
