Ball State University
Western Kentucky University
WBB Hosts Saint Louis Monday in Worthen Arena
December 01, 2022 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 2 | Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena | 6:30 pm ET
Game 8 | Ball State (4-2) vs. Saint Louis (2-8)
Dec. 5 | Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena | 6:30 pm ET
Opening Tip:
- Ball State looks to improve to 6-2 in non-conference action for the first time since the 2017-18 season when it welcomes Western Kentucky and Saint Louis to Worthen Arena Friday, Dec. 2 and Monday, Dec. 5, respectively. Both games are set to begin at 6:30 p.m.Â
- The Cardinals returned home from Thanksgiving break with two road wins under their belt after earning victories at Utah State (80-55) and at BYU (61-56).Â
- Friday's meeting with the Lady Toppers is the 11th-all-time. The Cardinals lead the all-time series, 6-4. Ball State won the last meeting by a score of 58-54 in E.A. Diddle Arena on Dec. 5, 2020.
- Monday's meeting against Billikens is the 11-all-time. The series is tied, 5-5. The last time these two teams met in the regular season was in 2015 which resulted in a 79-70 win for Ball State in Worthen Arena on Dec. 28. That same season, the Cardinals advanced to the second round of the postseason WNIT Tourrnament where they faced Saint Louis again but this time on their turf, resulting in a 55-59 loss for Ball State, March 21, 2016.Â
- Ball State is off to a 4-2 start on the season, with Anna Clephane leading the team in scoring with 12.2 points per game. The redshirt senior has scored in double figures in five of the six games thus far for the Cardinals. Sophomore Madelyn Bischoff is also averaging double-digit scoring with 10.7 points per contest.
- So far, the Cardinals are undefeated at home this season (2-0) after earning victories over IU East (105-51) and in-state rival Butler (84-68). Ball State 11th-year head coach Brady Sallee currently holds a 95-50 (.658) record in Worthen Arena.
Second Half Cardinals:
Although the Cardinals lost in their season opener the stats proved that they could be a second half team this season. Ball State outscored Tennessee Tech 39-29 in the second half of Monday's games. The Cardinals best quarter was the fourth period when Ball State outpaced Tennessee Tech, 16-9. The Cardinals also won the rebounding category over the Golden Eagles, 48-28. Same scenario and different game against Butler Nov. 17 in Worthen Arena. The Cardinals were trailing at the half but outscored the Bulldogs 52-35 in the second half to earn the 84-68 victory over their rival. Against BYU, the Cardinals outscored the Cougars 29-21 in the final two quarters to pull off the 61-56 victory.Â
Three All-Stars Start:
Three of the Cardinals' sophomores this season were tabbed to their respective states all-star squads in high school. Both Ally Becki and Madelyn Bischoff were selected to the Indiana All-Star team while fellow teammate Marie Kiefer was a Kentucky All-Star. All three sophomores are in the starting lineup and have combined for 205 points thus far for the Cardinals, 79 rebounds, and 33 assists.Â
Fun fact BSU vs. WKU:
Last season the Cardinals and the Lady Toppers did not play one another but prior to that, Ball State and Western Kentucky had faced each other for eight-straight seasons. During that stretch, the Cardinals were the only non-conference team Western Kentucky had faced every year since 2013-14.
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