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.
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.
Under 11th year head coach Brady Sallee, the Cardinals have surpassed the second round of the WNIT four times (2013, 2016, 2018 & 2023).
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).
Rounding out the double-digit scoring was sophomore Marie Kiefer who ended the night with 10.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Under 11th year head coach Brady Sallee, the Cardinals have surpassed the second round of the WNIT four times (2013, 2016, 2018 & 2023).
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).
Rounding out the double-digit scoring was sophomore Marie Kiefer who ended the night with 10.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Team Stats
BEL
BSU
FG%
.517
.544
3FG%
.318
.500
FT%
.704
.917
RB
31
31
TO
11
6
STL
4
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
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
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