Ball State University
Northern Illinois University
WBB Returns To The Court Monday For a MAC Matinee At Home Against NIU
February 07, 2021 | Women's Basketball
Ball State (9-6, 7-4Â MAC) vs. Northern Illinois (9-6, 7-3 MAC)
Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena
Watch: ESPN3Â Â | Listen:Â Muncie Sports Station (102.9 FM/1340 AM)Â |Â Live Stats
Game Notes: Ball State | Northern Illinois
Opening Tip:
• This will mark the 60th meeting in a series that began in 1982-83 when the Cardinals defeated the Huskies 86-83 on Jan. 26 in DeKalb, Ill. The Cardinals lead the all-time series record 38-21. Ball State and Northern Illinois split the two-game series last year both winning on their home turfs. The last time the two met was in DeKalb on March 4, 2020 resulting in a 86-79 loss for the Cardinals.
• Ball State ninth-year head coach Brady Sallee has won 13 of the last 17 meetings against the Huskies dating back to his first season at the helm in 2012-13.
• Today's contest was originally scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 20 but due to COVID-19 pandemic the game was postponed until this afternoon.Â
• Northern Illinois got to enjoy a few days off as the Huskies did not play Saturday, Feb. 6. NIU is coming off of a 79-78 upset over MAC favorite Bowling Green on Feb. 3 in DeKalb,Ill. With the victory, the Huskies will ride a three-game win streak into Worthen Arena Monday.
• The Cardinals five-game win streak was snapped Saturday in Worthen Arena by Akron. Ball State fell to the Zips 89-84 in overtime. BSU had not lost a game since its 88-85 overtime victory at Ohio on Jan. 13. Senior forward Oshlynn Brown led the Cardinals against Akron with a 29-point, 19 rebound performance. The 19 rebounds matched Brown's career high.Â
• The Cardinals have a tough week ahead them as they are set to play four games in an eight day span.Â
Down To The Wire:
The Cardinals have taking their last six contests down to the wire and I mean down to the wire. The Cardinals have not won or lost by more than seven points in six games. Ball State has played two overtime contests in less than a month winning one at Ohio (88-85) on Jan. 13 and then losing to Akron (89-84) on Feb. 6. The most the Cardinals have won by in their last six games was a seven-point margin (78-71) at Western Michigan on Jan. 30.Â
1,000 Points, 1,000 Rebounds:
Senior Oshlynn Brown currently has 1,292 career points and 970Â rebounds. Brown needs 30 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.
Rebound That Basketball:
Senior forward Oshlynn Brown is moving up the all-time rebounds list at Ball State. She currently ranks 4th with 970 rebounds. Brown needs 17 rebounds to take sole possession of the third spot which is currently held by former Cardinal Nathalie Fontaine (2012-16) with 985 rebounds. Brown needs 39 rebounds to become the BSU's all-time leader in that category which is currently owned by for Cardinal Emma Jones (1984-87) with 1,028 rebounds.Â
Scouting NIU:
• The Huskies are led by head coach Lisa Carlson who is in her sixth season at Northern Illinois.Â
• Northern Illinois always has that one player you have to look out for when it comes to scoring. Last year it was forward Courtney Woods that the Cardinals had to concentrate on and this year it is sophomore Chelby Koker who leads the team in scoring averaging 20.2 points per contest. She is the lone Huskie that is currently averagin double figures. The Cardinals do not need to send Koker to the line as she ranks in the top 10 nationally in free throw percentage.Â
• Three-point shooting is one of NIU's strong suits this season. The Huskies rank at the top of the three-point shooting category amongst the Mid-American Conference averaging a little over 38 percent.
Next Game:
The Ball State women's basketball team remains at home Wednesday when it hosts Ohio for its annual "Play4Kay Think Pink" game. The game is at 7 p.m. ET in Worthen Arena. The Cardinals hold this event every year to raise money for cancer. To donate on behalf of the Ball State women's basketball team for the cause please use this provided link:
THINK PINK LINK
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