Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Kent State University
Women's Basketball Faces Kent State Friday in MAC Tourney Semifinals
March 14, 2024 | Women's Basketball
#2 Ball State (28-4) vs. #3 Kent State (11-8)
Mid-American Conference Tournament
March 13-16, 2024 >>Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse>>Cleveland, Ohio
Opening Tip:
- The last time the Cardinals faced the Golden Flashes at the MAC Tournament was in the first round in 2014. Ball State defeated Kent State at home 73-38 that year. The Cardinals and the Golden Flashes have never met in the semifinal round.
- This marks the third-straight season the Cardinals have advanced to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament.
- A Ball State win Friday will send the Cardinals to the MAC Tournament championships on Saturday for the first time since the 2022 season. That year the Cardinals fell to the Buffalo Bulls, 79-75.
- If Ball State were to advance to the title game Saturday the Cardinals will either face top-seeded Toledo or No. 4 Buffalo. The Cardinals split their two-game game series in regular season play against the Rockets and swept the series versus Buffalo.
- The Cardinals have been the No. 2 seed five times under the direction of 12th-year head coach Brady Sallee.
- Ball State head coach Brady Sallee owns an 8-10 overall Mid-American Conference Tournament mark.
- Friday's game against Kent State will mark the 68th time in program history the two schools have me with the Golden Flashes leading the all-time series, 43-24.
- The 28 overall wins this season for Ball State is a program record.
- Ball State and Kent State last faced one another on March 6 in Kent, Ohio. The Cardinals defeated the Golden Flashes 75-71 on ESPNU.
- Ball State owns a 9-2 record in its bracket for the 2024 MAC Tournament after earning regular season victories over No. 1 Toledo, No. 8 Western Michigan, No. 5 Bowling Green, No. 4 Buffalo, No. 7 Ohio and No. 3 Kent State. The Cardinals' took two-game sweeps this season against the Bulls, the Bobcats, and the Golden Flashes.
- In the 33 years of the tournament, the top seed has won the title 22 times. In 2016, the Buffalo Bulls became the lowest seed (#8) to ever advance to the tournament championship game and the highest seed to ever win the title. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds have met 16 times in the championship game, with the top seed winning 14 times.
Fun Fact:
Ball State head coach Brady Sallee is familiar with the Golden Flashes, he was an assistant women's basketball coach from 1996-2002 under former legendary head coach Bob Lindsay. Sallee was on the coaching staff when Kent State beat Ball State in the MAC Tournament championship game in 2002.
Last Time They Met MAC Tourney:
- No. 2 Buffalo 75, No. 2 Ball State 79 (2022 MAC Finals)
- No. 5 Ball State 71, No. 1 Toledo 66, (2022 MAC Semifinals)
- No. 5 Ball State 73, No .12 Kent State 38 (2014 MAC First Round)
