Ball State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Releases 2017-18 Schedule
September 07, 2017 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State women's basketball team released its full 2017-18 schedule today which is highlighted by seven home non-conference games, including a Nov. 29 match-up versus in-state rival Butler out of the Big East. Ball State will also travel to Big Ten foe Purdue (Dec. 3) and Nashville, Tenn. over the Thanksgiving break to face Vanderbilt, a member of the Southeastern Conference and Tennessee State.
"Completing this year's schedule was no easy task, but I feel as if we have put together another challenging non-conference slate," Ball State head women's basketball coach Brady Sallee said. "That, coupled with what we know will be another challenging year in the MAC, will put us in a great position to have success in the postseason."
Last season, the Cardinals made their fifth straight appearance in the Women's National Invitation Tournament and finished the season with a 21-10 record, marking only the sixth time in program history Ball State has had 20+ wins in a season. Sallee, who enters his sixth year at the helm of the Cardinals, became only the second coach in program history to accomplish back-to-back 20+ winning seasons, 2015-16 (22-10) and 2016-17 (21-10). Ball State also made its 27th appearance in the Mid-American Conference Tournament as the second seed punching its ticket straight to Cleveland for the fourth time under Sallee.
Ball State's first test will be a home exhibition game against Illinois-Springfield on Nov. 1.
The Cardinals officially open the 2017-18 season on the road at Cleveland State (Nov. 11) and will then return to Worthen Arena for back-to-back home games against Missouri State (Nov. 13) and Lipscomb (Nov. 15).
Ball State will spend the week of Thanksgiving playing two games in Nashville at Vanderbilt (Nov. 20) and then Tennessee State (Nov. 22). It will mark only the second meeting all-time against both opponents.
The Cardinals remain in the state of Indiana for the remainder of non-conference play which includes five home games -- Butler (Nov. 29), Southeast Missouri State (Dec. 7), Oakland City (Dec. 10), Austin Peay (Dec. 18) and Western Kentucky (Dec. 21). Against Austin Peay, the Cardinals will host their second annual Kids Day Event with an 11 a.m. tipoff. The event is open to elementary and middle school aged children, and all schools in attendance will receive complimentary tickets to the basketball game.
The lone road contest for Ball State will take place Dec. 3 at Purdue. The game against the Boilermakers will mark the 25th time the two schools have met in women's basketball. The Cardinals will also welcome back a familiar face to the sidelines when it hosts SEMO Dec. 7, as the RedHawks head coach Rekha Patterson was a former associate head coach for the program from 2013-15 and an assistant coach for the Cardinals in 2006-07.
After non-conference play, Ball State opens MAC action with back-to-back home games against Central Michigan (Dec. 30) and Miami (Jan. 3). The Cardinals end MAC play on the road at Eastern Michigan March 3. The 2018 MAC Tournament begins March 5 at campus sites before moving to Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena March 7-10.
Ball State will play 18 games (nine home, nine away) over 10 weeks this season during the conference schedule. The Cardinals will play seven teams (five in division, two cross division) twice and four (cross division) teams once. This year's cross-divisional home-and-home opponents are Akron and Bowling Green.
"Completing this year's schedule was no easy task, but I feel as if we have put together another challenging non-conference slate," Ball State head women's basketball coach Brady Sallee said. "That, coupled with what we know will be another challenging year in the MAC, will put us in a great position to have success in the postseason."
Last season, the Cardinals made their fifth straight appearance in the Women's National Invitation Tournament and finished the season with a 21-10 record, marking only the sixth time in program history Ball State has had 20+ wins in a season. Sallee, who enters his sixth year at the helm of the Cardinals, became only the second coach in program history to accomplish back-to-back 20+ winning seasons, 2015-16 (22-10) and 2016-17 (21-10). Ball State also made its 27th appearance in the Mid-American Conference Tournament as the second seed punching its ticket straight to Cleveland for the fourth time under Sallee.
Ball State's first test will be a home exhibition game against Illinois-Springfield on Nov. 1.
The Cardinals officially open the 2017-18 season on the road at Cleveland State (Nov. 11) and will then return to Worthen Arena for back-to-back home games against Missouri State (Nov. 13) and Lipscomb (Nov. 15).
Ball State will spend the week of Thanksgiving playing two games in Nashville at Vanderbilt (Nov. 20) and then Tennessee State (Nov. 22). It will mark only the second meeting all-time against both opponents.
The Cardinals remain in the state of Indiana for the remainder of non-conference play which includes five home games -- Butler (Nov. 29), Southeast Missouri State (Dec. 7), Oakland City (Dec. 10), Austin Peay (Dec. 18) and Western Kentucky (Dec. 21). Against Austin Peay, the Cardinals will host their second annual Kids Day Event with an 11 a.m. tipoff. The event is open to elementary and middle school aged children, and all schools in attendance will receive complimentary tickets to the basketball game.
The lone road contest for Ball State will take place Dec. 3 at Purdue. The game against the Boilermakers will mark the 25th time the two schools have met in women's basketball. The Cardinals will also welcome back a familiar face to the sidelines when it hosts SEMO Dec. 7, as the RedHawks head coach Rekha Patterson was a former associate head coach for the program from 2013-15 and an assistant coach for the Cardinals in 2006-07.
After non-conference play, Ball State opens MAC action with back-to-back home games against Central Michigan (Dec. 30) and Miami (Jan. 3). The Cardinals end MAC play on the road at Eastern Michigan March 3. The 2018 MAC Tournament begins March 5 at campus sites before moving to Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena March 7-10.
Ball State will play 18 games (nine home, nine away) over 10 weeks this season during the conference schedule. The Cardinals will play seven teams (five in division, two cross division) twice and four (cross division) teams once. This year's cross-divisional home-and-home opponents are Akron and Bowling Green.
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