Ball State University
South Dakota State University (Athlete Appreciation Night)
Mid-Major Powerhouses Collide as WBB Welcomes South Dakota State to Worthen Arena Sunday
November 29, 2024 | Women's Basketball
Ball State (5-2) vs. South Dakota State (4-2)
Dec. 1, 2024 >>Worthen Arena >>Muncie, Ind.>>1:00Â p.m. ET
Opening Tip:
- Ball State recently competed at the Battle 4 Atlantis falling to No, 16 North Carolina by a score of 63-52. The Cardinals then turned around the very next day to earn at 75-62 defeat over Texas A&M. Unfortunately, BSU would fall in the consolation title game to Columbia University, 69-62.
- With the win over Texas A&M, Ball State head coach Brady Sallee has now defeated a Power 5 conference team eight times during his tenure with the Cardinals — Minnesota (54-51, 2012-13), Iowa (77-72, 2015-16), Vanderbilt (88-79, 2017-18), Purdue (66-60, 2017-18), Pitt (68-66, 2022-23), Pitt (73-62, 2023-24), Georgia (52-51, 2023-24) and Texas A&M (75-62).
- In the second quarter against Columbia University, senior Marie Kiefer became Ball State women's basketball's all-time blocks leader with 153 total blocks passing former Carinal Tamara Bowie who owned the record of 152 since 2003.
 - Ball State guard Madelyn Bischoff made her return to the court in a big way last weekend, making her season debut and earning honors as the Mid-American Conference Co-Player of the Week. The senior from Indianapolis and Roncalli High School averaged 18.0 points per contest while also pulling down 4.0 rebounds per game. She totaled 10 3-pointers while shooting 50 percent from the 3-point line. Bischoff opened the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament with a 19-point performance against No. 16 North Carolina. Bischoff helped the Cardinals stay in the contest the entire 40 minutes of action against the Tar Heels. Bischoff closed the weekend on Sunday night scoring 17 points in a victory over Texas A&M. Bischoff shot over 62 percent (5-11) from behind the arc against the Aggies and added two steals.
- This will be the first-ever meeting between the Cardinals and the Jack Rabbits. The South Dakota State women's basketball team was ranked No. 25 on Nov 12 in USA Today Coaches Poll but have since dropped off the list. The Cardinals received two votes this week in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll.
Ally Buckets:
Ally Becki has picked up where she left off last season. The senior guard recently recorded her first triple double on Nov 13 against Memphis. For the game, Becki scored 22 points, pulled down 10 rebounds while dishing out 10 assists. Becki's triple double also marked the first from a Ball State women's basketball player since at least 2010 when the NCAA started keeping the triple double stat. It also remains the first NCAA women's basketball Division I triple double of the season.
Getting Noticed:
The Ball State women's basketball team received two votes in the latest USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll which was released Tuesday afternoon. The Cardinals own a 5-2 overall record. This is the second-straight season the Cardinals have been receiving votes in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Home Sweet Home:
John E. Worthen Arena has been very good to the Cardinals for the past decade. Ball State has a record of 191-86 (.654) at Worthen Arena from 2004-present. In 13 seasons Brady Sallee has compiled a 125-55 (.691) record in Worthen Arena. His best season at home was in 2022-23 when the Cardinals went 15-1 in Worthen.Â
Forcing Miscues:
Ball State has caused its opponents to commit 133 turnovers in seven games. The Cardinals have been able to turn those turnovers into a total of 140 points so far this season: Old Dominion (21 pts), IU Indy (25 pts), Memphis (22 pts) and Northern Iowa (21 pts), No. 16 Northern Carolina (14 pts), Texas A&M (29 pts) and Columbia (eight).
Top 10 in the Country:
Ally Becki ranks first in the nation in triple doubles (1), sixth in assists (47) and 10th in assists per game (6.7).
Scouting South Dakota:
- South Dakota State women's basketball knocked off its second top-25 opponent of the season Tuesday with a 75-70 victory over No. 21 Oregon in the final game of the North Shore Showcase.
- SDSU comes to Ball State with a 4-2 record with wins over Rice (65-63), No. 21/20 Creighton (76-71), Wisconsin (79-57) and No. 21 Oregon (75-70). The Jack Rabbits two losses came against No. 16 Duke (71-75) and Georgia Tech (57-71).
- Entering his 25th full season (2024-25) at the helm of the Jackrabbits' program, Johnston has created a mid-major powerhouse. Johnston has guided SDSU to 17 postseason appearances, including 12 NCAA Tournament berths, since the program made the jump to Division I in 2004-05. The eight-time Summit League Coach of the Year (2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) has guided the Jackrabbits to a winning record in all 24 years at South Dakota State, and has led SDSU to 21 20-plus win seasons, including 17 of the last 18 years.
