Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Oakland City University (Battle of the Bands)
WBB Returns Home For 2023 Non-Conference Finale; Hosts Oakland City Saturday
December 28, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Ball State (9-2) at Oakland City (7-5)
December 30, 2023 >>Worthen Arena>Muncie, Ind.>> 3 pm ET
OPENING TIP:
- Ball State earned back-to-back victories over Power 5 schools Pitt (73-62) and Georgia (52-51) and were crowned the Sun Coast Challenge Tournament champions in Tampa, Fla., on Dec. 21. Junior Ally Becki's last second shot rattled in to seal the victory over the Bulldog. Becki was also crowned the tournament's MVP.
- Ball State head coach Brady Sallee has now defeated six Power 5 conference teams seven times during his tenure with the Cardinals — Minnesota (54-51, 2012-13), Iowa (77-72, 2015-16), Vanderbilt (88-79, 2017-18), Purdue (66-60, 2017-18), Pitt (68-66, 2022-23), Pitt (73-62, 2023-24) and Georgia (52-51, 2023-24).
- The last time the Cardinals played Oakland City was in an exhibition game on Nov. 3, 2021 in Muncie which resulted in a 122-26 victory for Ball State. The Cardinals last faced the Mighty Oaks in regular season action on Dec. 10, 2017 in Worthen Arena. Ball State won that match-up 126-55.
- Oakland City comes to Ball State with an overall record of 7-5. The Mighty Oaks are coming off an 89-84 road victory against the University of Pikeville. Oakland City was led in scoring by Emilee Hope and Jalaya Dowell as they each scored 23 points apiece.
- The Cardinals open their 2024 18-game Mid-American Conference campaign which will include eight games at home and eight on the road over a 10-week span with a break in February for the newly implemented MAC and Sun Belt Conference Challenge on Feb. 10. Ball State starts
conference action at Western Michigan (Jan. 3). The Cardinals home league opener is slated for Jan. 10 versus Buffalo and then BSU will close out MAC play on the road against the Bulls (Mar. 9).
- The conference tournament runs March 13-16 with the league's top eight teams advancing to Cleveland for the quarterfinals, semifinals and the title game on Saturday, March 16.
GAME DAY TIDBITS:
- In her first 11 contests as a Cardinal, Nyla Hampton has stolen the ball 40 times and has dished out 45 assists. Hampton stole the ball eight times against Tennessee Tech (11/6/23) which marks a season best for her. Hampton is fourth in the nation in total steals (40) and ranks fifth in steals per game (3.91).
- The Cardinals as a team rank in the top 100 in these categorie: 33rd in turnovers forced per game (20.91), 29th in steals per game (11.2), 36th in 3-pointers per game (8.5), 52nd turnover margin (4.18), 37th in 3-point attempts (25.0), 78th in field goal percentage (43.8), 93rd in 3-point percentage (33.8), 46th in winning percentage (81.0), 86th in bench points (23.7), 90th in assists per game (15.1) and 98th in scoring offense (72.3).
- Madelyn Bischoff ranks 11th in 3-pointers per contest in the country (3.40), 13th in 3-point field goal percentage (48.6) and 26th in 3-pointers (34).
CAREER MILESTONES:
- Ally Becki needs 114 points for 1,000, 103 assists and 60 rebounds to reach the 500 mark.
- Nyla Hampton needs 53 points for 1,000.
- Marie Kiefer has 106 blocks for her career -- needs 46 to move into first place.
IN THE MAC:
The Cardinals sit atop of the Mid-American Conference with a 9-2 non-conference mark. Ball State is the only school in league play that has only two losses. As a team, the Cardinals rank first in the MAC in assists per game (15.1), scoring margin (5.5), scoring offense (72.3), turnover margin (4.18) and winning percentage (81.8).
COLLEGE INSIDER:
The Ball State Cardinals were ranked third for the fourth week in a row in the College Insider Women's Mid-Major Top-25 Poll. Only the Cardinals are ranked in the top five out of any Mid-American Conference program.
1. Gonzaga
2. Princeton
3. Ball State
4. FGCU
5. Cleveland State
