Ball State University Athletics
Tough Non-Conference Slate Highlights WBB’s 2018-19 Schedule
August 06, 2018 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State University women's basketball team has finalized its 2018-19 schedule, highlighted by a tough non-conference line-up which includes two contests in Worthen Arena against Power 5 programs Big Ten foe Purdue and SEC opponent Vanderbilt.
"As always, I think we have put together a non-conference schedule that will be exciting for our players and fans," Ball State head women's basketball coach Brady Sallee said. "Clearly we will be challenged and that was exactly the goal. To play in a league like the MAC and to see our program continue to reach new heights, I felt like it was time to play this strong of a non-conference slate."
The Cardinals open their season with back-to-back home games against Big Ten foe Purdue (Nov. 7) and Cleveland State (Nov. 11). Ball State will take on the Boilermakers at 7 p.m. and the contest versus the Vikings will tip-off at 2 p.m. The game against Purdue will mark the 27th time in program history the two schools have met. The Cardinals made history last season by defeating the Boilermakers for the first time since the 1979 season by a score of 66-60, Dec. 4 in Mackey Arena.
Ball State will then head to Missouri State for its second ever meeting against the Bears Nov. 17. The Cardinals played Missouri State for the first time last season in Worthen Arena which, resulted in a 70-58 victory for Ball State.
The Cardinals continue road play over Thanksgiving, with three games at the Gulf Coast Showcase (Nov. 23-25). Ball State will first face Fordham (Nov. 23) and will then take on either Duke or Washington (Nov. 24). The Cardinals end the invitational Nov. 25 against possible opponents Texas, Missouri, Michigan or Quinnipiac. After that, Ball State will return home to host Cincinnati in Worthen Arena, Nov. 28.
The month of December brings three home games to Worthen Arena —Vanderbilt (Dec. 6), Tennessee State (Dec. 21) and Urbana Dec. (30). Ball State will also welcome Southeastern Conference (SEC) member Vanderbilt to Worthen Arena for the first time in program history. The Cardinals won their game at Vanderbilt last season, 88-79, on Nov. 20. Ball State will also compete on the road twice in December; Butler (Dec.2) and at Western Kentucky (Dec. 16).
After non-conference play, Ball State opens Mid-American Conference action at Toledo (Jan. 5) before returning home for its league home opener against Bowling Green (Jan. 9). The Cardinals end their 18-game MAC slate at home versus Eastern Michigan (March 9). The 2019 MAC Tournament begins March 11 at campus sites before moving to Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena March 13-16.
Ball State head women's basketball coach Brady Sallee enters his seventh year at the helm of the Cardinals. Last season, Sallee guided Ball State to an 11-0 non-conference record, making them one of only seven teams nationally, and one of two non-Power 5 teams, to finish non-conference play with an unblemished record. The 11 straight non-conference wins also marked the second-largest win streak in program history (12 in 2008-0 which included a win over Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament).
The Cardinals also punched their ticket straight to the MAC Tournament in Cleveland for the fifth time under Sallee. Ball State made it to the postseason WNIT for the sixth straight year, advancing to the second round for the first time since the 2016 season.
"As always, I think we have put together a non-conference schedule that will be exciting for our players and fans," Ball State head women's basketball coach Brady Sallee said. "Clearly we will be challenged and that was exactly the goal. To play in a league like the MAC and to see our program continue to reach new heights, I felt like it was time to play this strong of a non-conference slate."
The Cardinals open their season with back-to-back home games against Big Ten foe Purdue (Nov. 7) and Cleveland State (Nov. 11). Ball State will take on the Boilermakers at 7 p.m. and the contest versus the Vikings will tip-off at 2 p.m. The game against Purdue will mark the 27th time in program history the two schools have met. The Cardinals made history last season by defeating the Boilermakers for the first time since the 1979 season by a score of 66-60, Dec. 4 in Mackey Arena.
Ball State will then head to Missouri State for its second ever meeting against the Bears Nov. 17. The Cardinals played Missouri State for the first time last season in Worthen Arena which, resulted in a 70-58 victory for Ball State.
The Cardinals continue road play over Thanksgiving, with three games at the Gulf Coast Showcase (Nov. 23-25). Ball State will first face Fordham (Nov. 23) and will then take on either Duke or Washington (Nov. 24). The Cardinals end the invitational Nov. 25 against possible opponents Texas, Missouri, Michigan or Quinnipiac. After that, Ball State will return home to host Cincinnati in Worthen Arena, Nov. 28.
The month of December brings three home games to Worthen Arena —Vanderbilt (Dec. 6), Tennessee State (Dec. 21) and Urbana Dec. (30). Ball State will also welcome Southeastern Conference (SEC) member Vanderbilt to Worthen Arena for the first time in program history. The Cardinals won their game at Vanderbilt last season, 88-79, on Nov. 20. Ball State will also compete on the road twice in December; Butler (Dec.2) and at Western Kentucky (Dec. 16).
After non-conference play, Ball State opens Mid-American Conference action at Toledo (Jan. 5) before returning home for its league home opener against Bowling Green (Jan. 9). The Cardinals end their 18-game MAC slate at home versus Eastern Michigan (March 9). The 2019 MAC Tournament begins March 11 at campus sites before moving to Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena March 13-16.
Ball State head women's basketball coach Brady Sallee enters his seventh year at the helm of the Cardinals. Last season, Sallee guided Ball State to an 11-0 non-conference record, making them one of only seven teams nationally, and one of two non-Power 5 teams, to finish non-conference play with an unblemished record. The 11 straight non-conference wins also marked the second-largest win streak in program history (12 in 2008-0 which included a win over Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament).
The Cardinals also punched their ticket straight to the MAC Tournament in Cleveland for the fifth time under Sallee. Ball State made it to the postseason WNIT for the sixth straight year, advancing to the second round for the first time since the 2016 season.
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