Ball State University
Kent State University
Women's Basketball Battles Kent State to Remain Atop of the MAC Wednesday In Worthen
January 30, 2024 | Women's Basketball
The Cardinals are looking to remain undefeated in #MACtion and extend their win streak to 13
Ball State (18-2, 8-0 MAC) vs Kent State (13-5, 7-1 MAC)
January 31, 2024 >> Worthen Arena >>Muncie, Ind.>>Â 6:30 pm ET
Opening Tip:Â
- The Ball State University women's basketball team continues to make history this season, holding a 18-2 overall record which is the best start in program history. The program reached 18 wins with its 75-50 triumph at Eastern Michigan Saturday. With the win, the Cardinals remained undefeated in Mid-American Conference action (8-0) for only the second time in program history.Â
- A Cardinal win Wednesday against the Golden Flashes will make Ball State 9-0 in conference play for the first time in program history.Â
-Â The Cardinals have held a halftime lead in seven of their eight Mid-American Conference games so far this season. Ball State is 7-0 in those contests.Â
- 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. Ball State won its lone meeting over Kent State last year in Worthen Arena on Feb. 4 by a score of 80-71.
- Ball State's only two losses this season came against national powerhouses Notre Dame and UConn. With wins over Pitt and Georgia this non-conference season 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), Van- derbilt (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).
- Both Nyla Hampton and Ally Becki each reached 1,000 career points on Jan. 21 against Toledo. 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 912 points she needs 88 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.
Amongst the Elite:
The Cardinals are getting noticed on a national level as Ball State has received 11 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 six teams in NCAA DI women's basketball that have won 12 or more games in a row. Ball State is also only one of 14 NCAA DI teams that remain undefeated in their respective conference play with an 8-0 mark in MAC action. The Cardinals are also one of 12 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. Ball State also has the highest win percentage out of any NCAA DI program in the state of Indiana 18-2 (.900).
Game Day Tidbits:
- In 20 contests as a Cardinal, Nyla Hampton has stolen the ball 66 times and has dished out 101 assists. Hampton stole the ball eight times against Tennessee Tech (11/6/23) which marks a season best for her. Hampton is sixth in the nation in total steals (66) and ranks ninth in steals per game (3.30).
- The Cardinals as a team rank in the top 100 in these categories: eighth in winning percentage (90.0), 14th in 3-pointers per game (9.0), 22nd in turnover margin (5.20), 25th in 3-point percentage (36.6), 33rd in turnovers forced per game (20.10) , 33rd in steals per game (10.7), 38th in 3-point field goal attempts (24.5), 39th in field goal percentage (45.5), 50th in scoring margin (12.7), 50th in bench points per game (24.0), 51st in assists per game (16.1), 57th in assist/turnover ratio (1.08) and 57th in scoring offense (74.6).
- Madelyn Bischoff ranks 11th in 3-pointers per contest in the country (3.05), 12th in 3-point field goal percentage (45.3) and 15th in total 3-pointers (58).
Career Milestones:
- Ally Becki needs 57 assists and 11 rebounds to reach the 500 mark.
- Marie Kiefer has 117 blocks for her career -- needs 35 to move into first place.
- Annie Rauch has 912 points for her career and needs 88 for 1,000.
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