Ball State University
Northern Illinois
Women's Basketball Hosts Northern Illinois In MAC Action Saturday
January 26, 2018 | Women's Basketball
Game #20: Ball State vs. Northern Illinois
Date: Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018
Tipoff: 2 p.m.
Television: ESPN3
Listen: Muncie Sports Station 102.9 FM/1340 AM
Live Stats: Ball State vs. Northern Illinois
Social Media: @BallStateWBB, @BallStateSports, #ChirpChirp
Game Notes: Ball State | Northern Illinois
- The Ball State women's basketball had its best defensive showing of the season, holding Bowling Green to only 19.7 percent shooting from the field in the Cardinals' 82-41 win over the Falcons Wednesday night in Worthen Arena.
The 19.7 percent was the lowest field goal percentage the Cardinals has held their opponent to from the floor dating back to the 2002-03 season. Ball State held Kent State to 24.0 percent on Jan. 12, 2014 and Buffalo to 24.2 percent on Jan. 17, 2015. Senior forward Moriah Monaco led all scorers with 23 points.
- Ball State's 16-3 record is the best start in program history.
- Ball State finished non-conference play with an 11-0 record and was one of only seven teams nationally to accomplish that goal. The Cardinals were also only one of two non Power 5 teams on that list. Ball State has received votes in both the USA Today Coaches and AP Top 25 polls this season.
- Power 5 conference wins over - Vanderbilt (88-79) and Purdue (66-60). Along with wins over Big East opponent Butler (87-75) and Conference USA Western Kentucky (93-81).
- Ball State has scored at least 80-plus points in 11 out of its 19 games.
- Ball State ranks 33rd nationally in the latest RPI which is the second highest ranking of any team in the Mid-American Conference.
- Ball State has three wins over top 100 RPI Teams - Purdue (46 RPI), Western Kentucky (57) and Butler (81).
- Junior guard Carmen Grande ranks second nationally in assists per game (9.6 apg) and second in total assists (183).
- The 11 straight non-conference wins marked the second largest win streak in program history (12 in 2008-09 which included win over Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament).
- Ball State has led at the half against all but three of its opponents this year. When the Cardinals lead at intermission it has resulted in 15 wins for Ball State. - Senior forward Moriah Monaco has scored 71 times in double figures over her career and is 19 points away from moving up to eighth on the program's all-time scoring list.
- The Huskies hold a 10-9 record heading into Saturday's game and a 2-6 Mid-American Conference ledger. Northern Illinois has lost its last five games, all those contest were decided by seven points or less. The Huskies have wins over Kent State (81-79) and MAC East Division leader Buffalo (86-84, OT). Northern Illinois recently fell on the road at Ohio Wednesday, 75-77.
- Saturday's game against Northern Illinois will mark the 53rd time in program history the two schools have met with Ball State leading the series 35-17. Ball State has won 20 of its last 26 meetings dating back to 2005-06. The Cardinals won their last meeting over the Huskies by a score of 92-84 in the Convocation Center on Feb. 18, 2017.
- Northern Illinois is paced by Courtney Woods, who averages 20.8 ppg and 7.4 rpg. Behind Woods is Kelly Smith who is currently averaging 16.5 ppg and 5.9 rpg. Rounding out the double digit scoring for the Huskies is Mikayla Voigt (13.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Janae Poisson (10.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg).
- The Huskies are led by head coach Lisa Carlson who is in her third season at Northern Illinois.
