Ball State University
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Western Michigan
Women's Basketball Closes Out Regular Season At Western Michigan Saturday
March 06, 2020 | Women's Basketball
The Cardinals have already secured the No. 2 seed in next week's 2020 MAC Tourney in Cleveland, Ohio
Ball State (20-9, 12-5 MAC) vs. Western Michigan (17-11, 10-7 MAC)
Kalamazoo, Mich. | Read Fieldhouse/University Arena
Watch: ESPN3 |  Listen | Live Stats
Game Notes: Ball State | Western Michigan
Opening Tip:
-Ball State will close regular season action Saturday at Western Michigan with the tip-off scheduled to start at 2 p.m. in Kalamazoo, Mich. Win or lose, the Cardinals have already secured the second seed in next week's 2020 Mid-American Conference Tournament. The Cardinals will be game seven at the tourney and will face the winner of game three, approximately 30 minutes after game six which will begin around 5 p.m. BSU is looking to end its regular season on a high note after losing Wednesday on the road to NIU.
- Since the Broncos lost 65-68 to the Cardinals in their first meeting on Feb. 1 in Worthen Arena, WMU has won six of their last 10 games. WMU enters the contest on a two-game winning streak after defeating Northern Illinois, 63-50, on Feb. 29 and at Eastern Michigan on March 4, 53-49.
- Saturday's game against Western Michigan will mark the 85th time in program history the two schools have met with Ball State leading the series record, 45-39.Â
- Ball State owns a 25-8 ledger over Western Michigan dating back to the 2004-05 season. Brady Sallee owns an 12-4 career mark against the Broncos.
- Under head coach Brady Sallee the Cardinals have only lost twice at Western Michigan, Feb. 28, 2015 (50-51) and in 2019 on March 2 (54-72).
- Since 2012-13 the Cardinals have wrapped up their season four times on the road, owning a 2-2 record.
MAC Tourney Time:
This marks the 30th appearance for the Cardinals in the Mid-American Conference Tournament in program history. Ball State has advanced to Cleveland 18 out of the past 20 seasons. The Cardinals are 20-28 all-time in MAC Tournament play and have advanced to the MAC Tournament finals on five occasions. Ball State defeated Bowling Green in 2009 in the MAC Tournament Championship game. This is the sixth time in current head coach Brady Sallee's tenure the Cardinals have punched their ticket straight to the MAC Tournament in Cleveland. Prior to that, Ball State had not received a bye in the MAC Tournament at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse since 2009, when the Cardinals won the event as the No. 2 seed. Ironically, Ball State will enter this year's tournament as the No. 2 seed as well.
Brown POW X4:
Oshlynn Brown garnered her fourth Mid-American West Division weekly honor of the season. Brown has now received the honor five times over her career as a Cardinal. Brown averaged a double-double in Mid-American Conference action last week, scoring 19.5 points per contest while pulling down 13.5 rebounds per game helping BSU earn wins over Toledo and CMU.
MAC Success:
- Under the direction of eighth-year head coach Brady Sallee, the Cardinals have had a wealth of success during MAC action. Sallee entered this conference season with 77-47 (.621) career MAC record. The Cardinals have punched their ticket straight to Cleveland in the MAC Tournament five out of seven times under Sallee and have reached the championship game twice. Ball State earned a MAC West Division title in 2014-15 and has reached post season play six times including making it to the round of 16 at the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) in Sallee's inaugural year.
- The Cardinals have placed players on the postseason award list for the last eight seasons including the MAC Player of The Year Nathalie Fontaine in 2016. Prior to this season, junior forward Oshlynn Brown was named to the preseason All-MAC squad. Brown currently leads the Cardinals in scoring (13.1) and rebounding (9.6). She has registered five double-doubles this season and now has 23 for her career. She has been named the MAC West Division Player of the Week twice so far in non-conference play.
- Ball State has locked up a second place finish in the MAC standings. Central Michigan leads both divisions with a 15-2 conference mark.
Scouting The Broncos:
- Shane Clipfell first year as the head coach of the Broncos was also Brady Sallee's first year at Ball State. Clipfell was familiar with the MAC as he was an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan for nine seasons. Prior to Western Michigan, Clipfell was an assistant coach at Michigan State. Clipfell's best season with the Broncos was in 2014-15, leading WMU to an overall record of 20-13 and an 11-7 MAC ledger.
- Western Michigan has been on the rise as of late, winning six of its last 10 league games. The Broncos have three players averaging double figures in scoring, Jordan Walker (15.6 ppg), Breanna Mobley (14.0 ppg) and Leighah-Amori Wool (11.9 ppg). Mobley also leads the squad in rebounding with 10.9 per contest.
- If the tournament were to start today, the Broncos would have the first round bye as the No. 4 seed.
- The key to today's game is defense and not to send the Broncos to the line as WMU shoots almost 70 percent from the charity stripe. WMU also has been strong from 3-point range all season averaging 7.1 per contest.
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