Thursday, March 16
Muncie, Ind.
6:30 pm
Ball State University
26-8,14-4MAC
101
vs
86
Belmont University
23-12,17-3MVC
1
2
3
4
F
Belmont
23
17
23
23
86
Ball St.
12
30
32
27
101
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
WBB Advances to Second Round of WNIT With Win over Belmont
March 16, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Redshirt senior Anna Clephane scores career high 31 points
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State women's basketball team (26-8) advanced to the second round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) with its 101-86 victory over Belmont (23-12) Thursday night in Worthen Arena.
Â
This is the first time since 2018 that Ball State has advanced to the second round of the WNIT. That year the Cardinals defeated Middle Tennessee, 69-60.Â
Â
Under 11th year head coach Brady Sallee, the Cardinals have surpassed the second round of the WNIT four times (2013, 2016, 2018 & 2023).
Â
The Cardinals had four players in double figures with three having 20+ points. Leading the way was redshirt senior Anna Clephane with a career high 31 points. Behind Clephane, was sophomore Madelyn Bischoff with a personal best 23 points. Graduate senior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir dropped in 20 points while firing off six 3-pointers. Agustsdottir now has 104 3-pointers which is a single-season program record passing current assistant coach Moriah Monaco (2016-17).Â
Â
Rounding out the double-digit scoring was sophomore Marie Kiefer who ended the night with 10.Â
Â
Also, the Cardinals' 26 wins ties the program record for most wins in a season which was 26-9 in 2008-09 under the direction of former head coach Kelly Packard.Â
Â
The stat sheet was similar in most categories, but it was the sixth man which was our home crowd tonight that allowed us to seal tonight's victory.Â
Â
The Cardinals got off to a slow start against the Bruins in the opening 10 minutes of action as BSU found itself trailing by 11 (23-12) to end the first quarter of play.
Â
 But as we know time and time again, Ball State is a strong shooting team and once the Cardinals start, they can't stop. Ball State fought its way back into the contest after putting together a 17-6 scoring spree in the second frame. The run was capped off by a 3-pointer from Clephane to knot the game at 29 apiece.
Â
The Cardinals had a lot of help, but it was Bischoff who shined in the first 20 minutes of play after going 3-of-3 from behind the arc and 4-of-5 from the field. Bischoff ended the half with a basket at the buzzer to give Ball State the 42-40 edge over Belmont at intermission.Â
Â
After the break, Ball State continued to outpace Belmont playing a much quicker ball game than it appeared the Bruins were accustomed to. The Cardinals tenacious defense and unmatched offense eventually allowed BSU to build a comfortable 74-63 lead to end the third quarter of play.Â
Â
In the final stanza, the Cardinals remained in control the last 10 minutes of the ball game to seal their destiny in the 2023 WNIT.Â
Â
The Ball State women's basketball team continues its quest for a WNIT championship when it competes in the second round at Memphis on Monday at 8 pm ET.Â
Â
Â
This is the first time since 2018 that Ball State has advanced to the second round of the WNIT. That year the Cardinals defeated Middle Tennessee, 69-60.Â
Â
Under 11th year head coach Brady Sallee, the Cardinals have surpassed the second round of the WNIT four times (2013, 2016, 2018 & 2023).
Â
The Cardinals had four players in double figures with three having 20+ points. Leading the way was redshirt senior Anna Clephane with a career high 31 points. Behind Clephane, was sophomore Madelyn Bischoff with a personal best 23 points. Graduate senior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir dropped in 20 points while firing off six 3-pointers. Agustsdottir now has 104 3-pointers which is a single-season program record passing current assistant coach Moriah Monaco (2016-17).Â
Â
Rounding out the double-digit scoring was sophomore Marie Kiefer who ended the night with 10.Â
Â
Also, the Cardinals' 26 wins ties the program record for most wins in a season which was 26-9 in 2008-09 under the direction of former head coach Kelly Packard.Â
Â
The stat sheet was similar in most categories, but it was the sixth man which was our home crowd tonight that allowed us to seal tonight's victory.Â
Â
The Cardinals got off to a slow start against the Bruins in the opening 10 minutes of action as BSU found itself trailing by 11 (23-12) to end the first quarter of play.
Â
 But as we know time and time again, Ball State is a strong shooting team and once the Cardinals start, they can't stop. Ball State fought its way back into the contest after putting together a 17-6 scoring spree in the second frame. The run was capped off by a 3-pointer from Clephane to knot the game at 29 apiece.
Â
The Cardinals had a lot of help, but it was Bischoff who shined in the first 20 minutes of play after going 3-of-3 from behind the arc and 4-of-5 from the field. Bischoff ended the half with a basket at the buzzer to give Ball State the 42-40 edge over Belmont at intermission.Â
Â
After the break, Ball State continued to outpace Belmont playing a much quicker ball game than it appeared the Bruins were accustomed to. The Cardinals tenacious defense and unmatched offense eventually allowed BSU to build a comfortable 74-63 lead to end the third quarter of play.Â
Â
In the final stanza, the Cardinals remained in control the last 10 minutes of the ball game to seal their destiny in the 2023 WNIT.Â
Â
The Ball State women's basketball team continues its quest for a WNIT championship when it competes in the second round at Memphis on Monday at 8 pm ET.Â
Â
Team Stats
BEL
BSU
FG%
.517
.544
3FG%
.318
.500
FT%
.704
.917
RB
31
31
TO
11
6
STL
4
3
Game Leaders
Pts
31
FGM
12
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
23
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
4
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
6
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Basketball
Sports Link: 13 Cards in 13 Days (Bree Salenbien)
Wednesday, November 12
Sports Link: 13 Cards in 13 Days (Grace Kingery)
Tuesday, November 11
Sports Link: 13 Cards in 13 Days (Tessa Towers)
Monday, November 10
Sports Link: 13 Cards in 13 Days (Karsyn Norman)
Sunday, November 09