Ball State University
Kent State University
WBB Hits the Road Wednesday to take on Kent State in Midweek #MACtion
January 14, 2025 | Women's Basketball
Game No. 17 Cardinals vs. Golden Flashes
Ball State (12-4, 4-0 MAC) vs. Kent State (10-6, 3-1 MAC)
Jan. 15, 2025 >>M.A.C Center>>7 pm ET>>Kent, Ohio
Opening Tip:
- Wednesday's game against Kent State will mark the 69th time in program history the two schools have met with the Golden Flashes leading the all-time series, 44-24. The last time the Cardinals won in Kent was last year on national television when Ball State defeated Kent State, 75-71.
- The last meeting between Ball State and Kent State was at the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinal round which saw the Cardinals fall to the eventual MAC Tourney champion Golden Flashes by a 65-50 decision in Cleveland on March 15, 2024.
- Ball State won the home-and-away series last season against Kent State.
- The Cardinals have been road warriors the past four years during Mid-American Conference action. Ball State owns a 29-10 (.736) ledger when playing league games on the road dating back to the 2021 MAC season with its best showing being in 2021 when the Cardinals went 9-1 that year.
- For the second-straight season, the Cardinals have opened Mid-American Conference with a 4-0 ledger. Ball State remains the only team in league play that is undefeated.
- Ball State has won eight-straight MAC regular season games dating back to last year. The Cardinals haven't lost a regular season league contest since Feb. 24, 2024, which was at Toledo.Â
- The Ball State women's basketball team is coming off of a 78-56 victory at Buffalo Saturday which saw Elise Stuck lead the way with a double-double after tying her career best in points (20) while also pulling down a personal high in rebounds with 15.
- Kent State matched the program record with 16 three-point field goals during a 79-64 victory over host Ohio on Saturday afternoon for its first road win during Mid-American Conference play. The Golden Flashes lone loss in league play came against Toledo on Wednesday, Jan. 8 by a score of 79-64.
Net Rankings:
The NCAA Division I net rankings have the Cardinals being ranked in the top 70 coming in at 54. Ball State has earned the highest net ranking out of all the schools in the Mid-American Conference.
Sallee is HOT in January:
It may be cold outside but the Cardinals tend to get hot in the month of January under 13th-year head coach Brady Sallee. Sallee owns an overall record of 72-29 (.710) in the month of January dating back to his first season in 2012-13.
Forcing Miscues:
Ball State has caused its opponents to commit 306 miscues in 16 games. The Cardinals have been able to turn those turnovers into a total of 339 points so far this season: Old Dominion (21 pts), IU Indy (25 pts), Memphis (22 pts), Northern Iowa (21 pts), No. 16 Northern Carolina (14 pts), Texas A&M (29 pts), Columbia (8), South Dakota State (17), Davidson (24), Northern Kentucky (20 pts), Anderson (46), Miami (31), Central Michigan (22), Eastern Michigan (22) and Buffalo (17).
12-1 at the Half:
The Cardinals own an 12-1 ledger when Ball State ends the first half with the lead. The lone loss came against Columbia University as the Cardinals had a 31-25 edge against the Jack Rabbits at halftime on Nov. 25, 2024 in the last game of the Battle 4 Atlantis.Â
Scouting Kent State:
- Preseason All-MAC First Team selection Jenna Batsch (15.1 ppg, 4.25 apg) is one of only two players in the conference averaging at least 14 points, four assists and one steal per game. Bridget Dunn (7.8 ppg) ranks sixth in the nation in defensive rebounding (8.6 drpg) and 22nd overall in rebounds per game (10.2). Mya Babbitt (12.3 ppg) leads the MAC with 42 three-pointers and has made 40.2% of attempts from beyond the arc.
- The first-ever meeting between Ball State and Kent State was the 1979-80 season. The Golden Flashes won that meeting by a score of 84-59 in Ohio.
- The Flashes are 5-7 vs. Ball State under head coach Todd Starkey.
Lachelle Austin Nearing 1,000 Career Points:
The Cardinals welcomed transfer Lachelle Austin to its 2024-25 roster this season. Austin, a senior, is familiar with the Mid-American Conference, playing three years at Eastern Michigan. Austin was one of the Eagles top scorers and has scored in double figure in six of the Cardinals' seven contests thus far this season. Austin for her career has 961 points and needs just 39 to reach 1,000.
