Ball State University
Bellarmine University
Women's Basketball Returns To The Court Monday At Bellarmine
December 13, 2020 | Women's Basketball
Ball State (1-3, 0-1 MAC) vs. Bellarmine (0-0, 0-0 ASUN)
Louisville, Ky. | Freedom Hall
Watch: ESPN+ | Listen: Muncie Sports Station (102.9 FM/1340 AM) | Live Stats
Game Notes: Ball State | Bellarmine
Opening Tip:
- The Cardinals are looking for their second-straight win after defeating Western Kentucky on Dec. 5 by a score of 58-54 in E.A. Diddle Arena. Although the game was close for the 40-minute duration, Ball State managed to take control in the final quarter of action to seal the victory over the Lady Toppers.
- The Cardinals placed four in double figures in the win at WKU last Saturday, with Thelma Dis Agustsdottir and Essence Booker leading the way with 15 points apiece. It was a personal best for Booker. Annie Rauch finished the game with her first double-double of her career after scoring 11 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Maliah Howard-Bass would close out the double digit scoring for BSU with 10 points.
- Today's game against Bellarmine marks the first-ever meeting between the Cardinals and the Knights. This is also the first contest of the season for Bellarmine.
A few fun facts about the Bellarmine Knights:
- Bellarmine is one of four schools joining Division I in 2020-21, a list that also includes Tarleton State, UC San Diego and Dixie State.
- Bellarmine had competed in Division II and was a founding member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, where women's basketball had been a member since 1982-83.Â
- Bellarmine is now part of the ASUN Conference.
- Bellarmine is playing its home games this season in iconic Freedom Hall, which was once the home to the University of Louisville for more than five decades.
Scouting Bellarmine:
• Chancellor Dugan has been the head coach at Bellarmine since 2012-13. Dugan has guided the Knights to a GLVC (Great Lakes Valley Conference) Tournament title in 2016 and back-to-back NCAA Division II tournament bids (2016, 2017).• The Lady Toppers finished their 2019-20 season with a 22-7 overall record and a 14-4 Conference USA mark. WKU went 12-1 in its last 13 games of the season. Much like the rest of the college basketball world, the Lady Toppers couldn't participate in the 2020 Conference USA Tournament due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.Â
• Bellarmine accepted the ASUN Conference's invitation to join their league on July 1, 2020 to officially become a member of NCAA Division I. Ironically, Bellarmine field hockey is not part of the Mid-American Conference and will compete against Ball State this spring.
• The Lady Toppers were picked to finish fifth in the Conference-USA preseason poll. WKU has one of the youngest teams in the Conference-USA this season after losing three of its five starters from last year's squad.
• Senior guard Breia Torrens was selected to the ASUN Preseason All-Conference Team and Player of the Year nominee. Last year Torrens was a First Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honoree.
Oshlynn Brown Preseason All-MAC:
Senior Oshlynn Brown was selected for the second straight season as a member of the 2020-21 preseason All-Mid-American Conference Team. Brown enters her senior season with 1,088 points, 836 rebounds, 33 double-doubles, 40 double-digit rebounding performances and 58 double-digit scoring games. Last year she was tabbed First Team All-MAC and earned MAC West Division Player of the Week accolades four times.Â
BSU Picked To Finish Third:
The Cardinals were picked to finish third in the MAC preseason poll behind Central Michigan (1) and Ohio (2). Ball State also earned one vote to win the 2021 MAC Tournament. (8-23). Â
1,000 Points, 1,000 Rebounds:
Senior Oshlynn Brown currently has 1,088 career points and 836 rebounds. Brown needs 164 rebounds to hit 1,000. Brown will become only the second player in Ball State women's basketball history to reach 1,000 points and rebounds. Former Cardinal Emma Jones (1984-87) so far is the lone player in program history to get 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
The Ice Keeps Melting:
It's hard to believe that the Cardinals' forward from Iceland, Thelma Dis Agustsdottir is a junior already. So far this season Agustsdottir has led Ball State in scoring in all four of their contests -- vs. Milwaukee (19), IUPUI (10), Eastern Michigan (14) and Western Ketucky (15). At this pace she could be the Cardinals' next 1,000th point club member, she currently has 643 points.
Next Game:
After tonight's contest the Cardinals will have wrapped up its non-conference portion of their schedule and return to Mid-American Conference action. Ball State will hit the road for a 2 p.m. ET tipoff against Akron in James A. Rhodes Arena on Dec. 20, right before the holiday break. The Cardinals will then host Bowling Green in Worthen Arena on Jan. 2.
Marketing and Promotions:
We want to see YOU at Ball State athletic events this season, even if you can't physically be there! Show off your Cardinal and White by purchasing a cutout of you, a family member, or your four-legged Cardinal fan! Your cutout will be placed around our home events for the 2020-21 season to help enhance the atmosphere and visual presence in Scheumann Stadium and Worthen Arena. Your investment supports Ball State student-athletes.
You will have three location options:
• $55 – Your cutout will be placed at Scheumann Stadium AND Worthen Arena
• $45 – Your cutout will ONLY be placed at Scheumann Stadium
• $45 – Your cutout will ONLY be placed at Worthen ArenaÂ
The sooner you purchase the sooner you'll be cheering on your Cardinals! #ChirpChirp
All orders will be verified by Ball State Athletics.
Ball State will be holding all cutouts until May 2021. As of now there is not a pick up plan in place but we are considering a local pickup at the end of the year.
With the holidays approaching, why not add a Cardinals Mystery Pack to your plans from Ball State Athletics? Although fans won't be able to know exactly what is contained in each Cardinals Mystery Pack, BSU supporters can expect a package that will put a smile on the face of any Cardinals' supporter. Furthermore, each purchase supports Ball State student-athletes. Mystery Packs are just $7 and can be shipped for an additional fee.
It could be a pack of collateral like vintage posters, ticket backs or programs all the way to officially licensed apparel, autographed items and unique artifacts. Just like the outcome of a game, season or tournament - until they are played, fans won't know what's in store until they make the purchase! The value might be a tick under the purchase price or more than $50.
Buy now or call 765.285.1474 or 888.BSU.TICKET with questions!
