Ball State University
Central Michigan
WBB Hosts MAC West Division Rival CMU Saturday In League Opener
December 29, 2017 | Women's Basketball
Game #12: Ball State vs. Central Michigan
Date: Thursday, Dec. 21
Tipoff: 7 p.m. ET
Television: ESPN3
Listen: Muncie Sports Station 102.9 FM/1340 AM
Live Stats: Ball State vs. Central Michigan
Social Media: @BallStateWBB, @BallStateSports, #ChirpChirp
Game Notes: Ball State | Central Michigan
- Ball State is off to its best start in program history after finishing non-conference action with an 11-0 record.
- The Cardinals remain one of seven teams nationally that are still undefeated and one of two non Power 5 teams on the list.
- Ball State has earned Power 5 conference wins this season over - Vanderbilt (88-79) and Purdue (66-60). The Cardinals have also earned victories over Big East opponent Butler (87-75) and Conference USA Western Kentucky (93-81).
- The Cardinals have scored at least 80-plus points in seven out of their 11 games.
- Ball State ranks 22nd nationally in the latest RPI.
- The Cardinals have four wins over top 100 RPI Teams - Western Kentucky (26 RPI), Butler (50 RPI), Purdue (56 RPI) and Cleveland State (91 RPI).
- Junior guard Carmen Grande ranks second nationally in assists per game (10.1 apg) and second in total assists (111).
- The 11 games in a row is the second largest win streak in program history (12 in 2008-09 which included the win over Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament).
- Five players are averaging double figures Moriah Monaco (17.0), Destiny Washington (13.3), Carmen Grande (12.6), Jasmin Samz (11.8) and Frannie Frazier (10.5).
- Destiny Washington earned Mid-American Conference Player of Week for last week's performances over Austin Peay and Western Kentucky. The senior forward averaged combined for 40 points during last week's competition. She scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double of her career against the Governors on Dec. 18 and then finished the week with a 15 point performance against Western Kentucky on Dec. 21.
- Today's game against Central Michigan will mark the 75th time the teams have met, with the Chippewas leading the all-time series record, 38-37. Ball State split with Central Michigan in its series last season, winning 81-73 in Worthen Arena on Feb. 25 and then fell to the Chippewas by a score of 101-92 in Mount Pleasant on Jan. 11. From 1996-present the Cardinals own a 29-12 record over the Chippewas. Ball State's largest win streak against Central Michigan was 11 from 2000 thru 2006. In 2014-15, the Cardinals swept the series ove the Chippewas winning at home, 73-64 on Feb. 18 and then clinched the MAC West Division title with an 85-69 win at Central Michigan on March 4.
- Central Michigan is paced by Presley Hudson, who averages 18.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg. Behind Hudson is Tinara Moore who is currently averaging 16.4 ppg and 8.2 rpg. The Chippewas have three more players scoring double figures each game, Cassie Breen (14.5 ppg), Reyna Frost (11.9 ppg) and Micaela Kelly (10.2 ppg).
- The Chippewas are led by head coach Sue Guevara who is in her 11th season at Central Michigan. Guevara currently owns a 183-145 record at CMU. She was an assistant coach at Ball State in 1985-86.
- Ball State head coach Brady Sallee owns a 4-1 record in Mid-American Conference openers. The Cardinals have not opened conference action against the Chippewas since 2001-02 which resulted ina a 90-81 win in Mount Pleasant on Jan. 2.
