Ball State University
Eastern Michigan University
Women's Basketball Takes Unblemished MAC Record on the Road Saturday at EMU
January 26, 2024 | Women's Basketball
The Cardinals own a 7-0 conference ledger and are looking to extend their win streak to 12
Ball State (17-2, 7-0 MAC) vs EMU (5-12, 2-5 MAC)
January 27, 2024 >> Gervin GameAbove >>Ypsilanti, Mich.>>Â 1 pm ET
Opening Tip:
- The Ball State University women's basketball team continues to make history this season, holding a 17-2 overall record which is the best start in program history. The program reached 17 wins with its 91-56 triumph over Miami Wednesday in Worthen Arena. With the win, the Cardinals remained undefeated in Mid-American Conference action (7-0) for only the second time in program history.
- A Cardinal win Saturday against the Eagles will make Ball State 8-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2000-2001 season.Â
-Â The Cardinals have held a halftime lead in six of their seven Mid-American Conference games so far this season. Ball State is 6-0 in those contests.Â
- 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. Head coach Brady Sallee holds an overall record of 14-9 against Eastern Michigan from 2012-13 to present.
 - Nyla Hampton and Ally Becki were recognized Wednesday prior to tipoff against the RedHawks for each reaching 1,000 career points.Â
- 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 901 points she needs 99 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.
- Against the RedHawks, Ana Barreto chipped in a career best 14 points after shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from the field including 4-of-4 from behind the arc.Â
Getting Noticed:
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.
Next Game:Â
Ball State returns home Wednesday when it hosts Kent State at 6:30 pm ET in Worthen Arena. Wednesday's game against Kent State will mark the 66th time in program history the two schools have me with the Golden Flashes leading the all-time series, 42-23.
Sallee Is 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 66-29 (.684) in the month of January dating back to his first season in 2012-13.
3X MAC POW for Becki:
For the third time this season, junior guard Ally Becki (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) has been tabbed the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week.
Becki was a key component in the Cardinals success last week after averaging 26.0 points per game while shooting 71 percent (15-21) from the field and 66 percent (10-15) from behind the arc. She also finished the week with 86 percent (12-14) shooting from the charity stripe.Â
Becki scored her 1,000th career point in a nationally televised game over Toledo Sunday night on the CBS Sports Network. The star-studded junior opened the week with a career best 36-point performance at Central Michigan Wednesday. Becki's 36-points 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. That game, Becki was efficient from the free throw line as she went 9-10 from the charity stripe.Â
On Sunday, Becki scored 16 points while helping Ball State defeat Toledo. With Becki's help, the Cardinals remained undefeated in league action with a 6-0 mark while also extending their win streak to 10.
