Ball State University
Miami University (OH) (Youth Night)
Women's Basketball Hosts Longtime MAC Rival Miami Wednesday
January 23, 2024 | Women's Basketball
The Cardinals look to remain undefeated in conference action
Ball State (16-2, 6-0 MAC) vs Miami (4-12, 2-4 MAC)
January 24, 2024 >> Worthen Arena >>Muncie, Ind.>>Â 6:30 pm ET
Opening Tip:
- The Cardinals are coming off of an impressive 65-51 win over Toledo Sunday in Worthen Arena. The nationally televised game was on CBS Sports Network. With the win, Ball State improved to 16-2 while remaining undefeated in Mid-American Conference action with a 6-0 ledger. It marks the first time since the 2000-2001 season that the Cardinals have started MAC play 6-0. That year Ball State went 8-0.Â
-Â Ally Becki's 36-points against Central Michigan on Jan. 17 tied her for fifth all-time for most points scored in a game. She also went 10-11 from the field and 7-8 from 3-point range. The seven three pointers are also tied for sixth all-time in program history. Becki also scored `16 points versus Toledo on Sunday, Jan. 21 along with registering her 1,000th career point against the Rockets. Her performance this week earned her MAC Player of the Week honors for the third time this season.
- Wednesday's game against Miami will mark the 73rd time in program history the two schools have met with the RedHawks leading the all-time series 40-32. Ball State won both its meeting over Miami last season.Â
 - Nyla Hampton earned her 1,000th career point against Toledo. Hampton finished her career at Bowling Green with 865 points and she has totaled 144 point thus far for her career as a Cardinal.
- It has been since the 2019-20 season that the Cardinals had two players reach 1,000 career points in the same season. That year it was Oshlynn Brown and Jasmin Samz.Â
- Annie Rauch is nearing 1,000 points as well with 892 points she needs 108 to reach the 1,000 point club as well. The last time three Ball State players scored a 1,000 points in the same season was Renee Bennett, Jill Morrison and Moriah Monaco in 2016-17.
- The Miami RedHawks are the closest Mid-American Conference opponent distance wise from the Cardinals. It takes approximately just a little over 71 miles from Oxford, Ohio to Muncie, Ind.
National Attention:
The Cardinals are getting noticed on a national level as Ball State has received six votes in the latest USA Today Sports Coaches Poll. Ball State also moved up to the 83rd spot in the latest NCAA DI RPI rankings. Ball State is one of seven teams in NCAA DI women's basketball that have won 10 or more games in a row. Ball State is also only one of 24 NCAA DI teams that remain undefeated in their respective conference play with a 6-0 mark in MAC action. The Cardinals are also one of 18 NCAA DI teams that have only two losses so far this season. The Cardinals only two losses this season came against national powerhouses No. 19 Notre Dame and No. 10 UConn. Ball State is the only MAC school to receive votes so far this season.
Game Day Tidbits:
- In her first 18 contests as a Cardinal, Nyla Hampton has stolen the ball 61 times and has dished out 90 assists. Hampton stole the ball eight times against Tennessee Tech (11/6/23) which marks a season best for her. Hampton is fifth in the nation in total steals (61) and ranks sixth in steals per game (3.39).
- The Cardinals as a team rank in the top 100 in these categories: 10th in winning percentage (88.9), 20th in 3-pointers per game (8.7), 26 in turnover margin (5.00), 27 steals per game (10.9), 32 in turnovers forced (20.33), 38th in 3-point percentage (35.5), 40th in 3-point attempts (24.4), 58th in field goal percentage (44.7), 64th in assists per game (15.6), 72nd in scoring offense (73.7), 76th in scoring margin (10.7) and 77th in assist/turnover ratio (1.02).
- Madelyn Bischoff ranks 8th in 3-pointers per contest in the country (3.12), 11th in 3-point field goal percentage (45.7) and 13th in total 3-pointers (53).
Sallee Hot in January:
- It may be cold outside but the Cardinals tend to get hot in the month of January under 112th-year head coach Brady Sallee. Sallee owns an overall record of 65-29 (.684) in the month of January dating back to his first season in 2012-13.
Next Game:
Ball State returns to the road Saturday when it plays at Eastern Michigan at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. Saturday's game against Eastern Michigan will mark the 89th time in program history the two schools have met with the Eagles leading the all-time series, 45-43.
