Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Eastern Michigan University
Women's Basketball Welcomes EMU Saturday to Worthen Arena for #MACtion Opener
December 19, 2025 | Women's Basketball
| Ball State vs. Eastern Michigan | Community Day | #MACtion | |
| Game 13 vs. Eastern Michigan | Saturday, December 20 at 11 am ET |
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| Game Notes and Media Info | Ball State | Eastern Michigan |
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Return of the MAC:
- The Cardinals are 8-5 in their Mid-American Conference openers under 14th year head coach Brady Sallee.
- Saturday's game against Eastern Michigan will mark the 94th time in program history the two schools have met with the Cardinals leading the all-time series record, 48-45. Head coach Brady Sallee holds an overall record of 19-9 against Eastern Michigan from 2012-13 to present.
- Ball State swept the league series against EMU and their first-year head coach Sahar Nusseibeh last season posting a 101-69 mark in Muncie on Jan. 8, 2025 and then earned a 74-69 decision in Ypsilanti on Feb. 15, 2025.
- Ball State head coach Brady Sallee is the longest tenured coach in the Mid-American Conference for women's basketball. Sallee begins his 14th season in the MAC and owns a 159-76 (.676) overall record in league action.
Where we Rank in the MAC:
Ball State currently leads the league in combined team rebounds (47.6), team defensive rebounds (32.6) and assists (18.58). The Cardinals are second in offense (75.3) and opponent field goal percentage (0.351) while placing third in scoring margin (11.9). Transfer Bree Salenbien ranks second in the MAC in scoring (16.4 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (9.2) while Tessa Towers is fifth (8.8).
Saturday's game against Eastern Michigan is "Community Day" and if you have a ticket for the men's basketball game at 2 pm ET against Miami it will get you in the door for the women's basketball at 11 am ET Saturday versus Eastern Michigan. We can't wait for you to come support the Cardinals for some holiday giveaways from local businesses including Amazing Joes, Adam Street Chophouse, Gaddis, T-nails, Pizza King, Endless Beauty by Wendy and Albany Golf Course along with some Ball State gear.
International Success:
The Cardinals have had plenty of international success under 14th year head coach Brady Sallee. We all remember Nathalie Fontaine the 6-2 guard from Stockholm, Sweden became Ball State's all-time leading scorer with 2,166 points. The 2016 MAC Player of the Year and AP honorable mention averaged 21.0 points per game and 10.2 rebounds while making over 50 percent of her shots. After Fontaine was Carmen Grande a native from Madrid, Spain who held onto the all-time assists record with 697 until Ally Becki surpassed her last season with 721 and we also cannot forget Thelma Dis Agustsdottir from Keflavik, Iceland who holds the all-time 3-point record with 325 treys. Agustsdottir also competed at the Celsius 3-point championship at the NCAA Tournament.
Scouting Eastern Michigan:
- Prior to the Eagles loss to Big Ten foe IU (67-74) on Sunday, Dec. 14, EMU had won four-straight. EMU comes to Ball State with a 6-4 ledger.
- Eastern is entering the second year of the Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh era. The Eagles surpassed their 2024-25 win total (two) just six games into the 2025-26 season, earning their third win over Robert Morris, 64-54, Nov. 26. EMU posted a 2-27 (1-17 MAC) record in 2024-25. Nusseibeh is familiar with the MAC as she used to be an assistant coach at Bowling Green from 2013-16.
- Senior Sisi Eleko is the only MAC player averaging a double-double this season as she is one of 20 players to do so nationally this season. She is averaging 17.5 points per game and 11.2 rebounds.
- Eastern has nine international players on the roster, tying for the fourth-most in the nation and most in the MAC. Wagner has the most with 13.
Home Sweet Home:John E. Worthen has been good to Brady Sallee and the Cardinals. Sallee has guided Ball State women's basketball to a 137-58 (.703) record in the last 14 seasons at home with its best showing being in 2022-23 with a 15-1 ledger
