Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, December 20
Muncie, Ind.
11 am
Ball State University
9-4,1-0MAC
78
vs
74
Eastern Michigan University
6-5,0-1MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Eastern Mich.
14
25
18
17
74
Ball St.
22
19
23
14
78
Photo by: Bobby Ellis (Ball State Creative Services)
Women’s Basketball Opens MAC Play with Gritty Win over Eastern Michigan
December 20, 2025 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State women's basketball team earned a gritty 78-74 victory Saturday afternoon in Worthen Arena over Eastern Michigan in the Cardinals' Mid-American Conference opener.
It came to no surprise that the Cardinals (9-4, 1-0 MAC) league opener against a much-improved Eastern Michigan (6-5, 0-1 MAC) team would come down to the wire. The game consisted of 14 lead changes and seven ties throughout the 40-minute duration.
Ball State opened the first quarter of play with a 12-2 run which was highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Grace Kingery. The Eagles stayed close throughout the first 10 minutes of action, but Kingery came through again with her third 3-pointer at the buzzer to give BSU the 22-14 edge over EMU to end the first frame.
The Eagles opened the second quarter with a 10-0 run that would give EMU the 24-22 lead with 7:47 on the clock. Bree Salenbien finally broke BSU's scoring drought after completing an old fashioned 3-pointer to put BSU back on top, 25-24.
After that, it was an up-an-down affair as both teams continued to trade baskets. Ball State unfortunately fell into some foul trouble which caused the Cardinals to readjust its lineup. After multiple lead changes Ball State wrapped up the first half of play with another trey from Kingery to give Ball State the 41-39 edge over the Eagles at the break.
After the intermission, EMU began the third frame with a 15-6 run to go up 54-47 with 4:20 left on the clock. Tessa Towers answered with a jumper which sparked a 17-0 scoring spree that was capped off by a Zuri Ransom basket to give BSU a 10-point cushion (64-54) with 39 seconds left in the third. Ball State would end up taking a seven-point edge (64-57) over the Eagles into the final 10 minutes of play.
The final stanza came down to BSU's defense, smart plays, along with key baskets and rebounding. The Cardinals never gave up eventually earning the victory over EMU today.
For the game, Kingery led Ball State with 21 points after shooting 5-of-6 (.833) from behind the arc while Towers chipped in 20 points. Karsyn Norman dished out eight assists and Aniss Tagayi recorded seven rebounds.
As a team, rebounding was a huge factor in today's outcome with the Cardinals leading that category over the Eagles, 39-20.
The Ball State women's basketball team will go back onto the road when it plays at Akron on Dec. 31. The game is slated for a noon start in James A. Rhodes
It came to no surprise that the Cardinals (9-4, 1-0 MAC) league opener against a much-improved Eastern Michigan (6-5, 0-1 MAC) team would come down to the wire. The game consisted of 14 lead changes and seven ties throughout the 40-minute duration.
Ball State opened the first quarter of play with a 12-2 run which was highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Grace Kingery. The Eagles stayed close throughout the first 10 minutes of action, but Kingery came through again with her third 3-pointer at the buzzer to give BSU the 22-14 edge over EMU to end the first frame.
The Eagles opened the second quarter with a 10-0 run that would give EMU the 24-22 lead with 7:47 on the clock. Bree Salenbien finally broke BSU's scoring drought after completing an old fashioned 3-pointer to put BSU back on top, 25-24.
After that, it was an up-an-down affair as both teams continued to trade baskets. Ball State unfortunately fell into some foul trouble which caused the Cardinals to readjust its lineup. After multiple lead changes Ball State wrapped up the first half of play with another trey from Kingery to give Ball State the 41-39 edge over the Eagles at the break.
After the intermission, EMU began the third frame with a 15-6 run to go up 54-47 with 4:20 left on the clock. Tessa Towers answered with a jumper which sparked a 17-0 scoring spree that was capped off by a Zuri Ransom basket to give BSU a 10-point cushion (64-54) with 39 seconds left in the third. Ball State would end up taking a seven-point edge (64-57) over the Eagles into the final 10 minutes of play.
The final stanza came down to BSU's defense, smart plays, along with key baskets and rebounding. The Cardinals never gave up eventually earning the victory over EMU today.
For the game, Kingery led Ball State with 21 points after shooting 5-of-6 (.833) from behind the arc while Towers chipped in 20 points. Karsyn Norman dished out eight assists and Aniss Tagayi recorded seven rebounds.
As a team, rebounding was a huge factor in today's outcome with the Cardinals leading that category over the Eagles, 39-20.
The Ball State women's basketball team will go back onto the road when it plays at Akron on Dec. 31. The game is slated for a noon start in James A. Rhodes
Team Stats
EMU
BSU
FG%
.500
.510
3FG%
.462
.550
FT%
.500
.682
RB
20
39
TO
17
24
STL
9
5
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Basketball
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