Ball State University
James Madison University (MAC-SBC Challenge)
WBB Plays at James Madison Saturday for MAC-SBC Challenge Game
February 07, 2025 | Women's Basketball
| Ball State Women's Basketball at James Madison MAC -SBC Challenge | |
| Game 22 vs. Western Michigan | Saturday, Feb. 8 at 1:00 p.m. Live Stats |  ESPN+ | Listen |
| Tickets and Gameday Info | Â Purchase Tickets Here |
| Game Notes and Media Info | Ball State | James Madison |
| Social Media | X (Twitter)Â | Instagram | Facebook |
Opening Tip:
- This is the second-all-time meeting between the two teams. Ball State leads James Madison, 1-0, in the series. The Cardinals have never played at James Madison. The two teams' first meeting was last year on CBS Sports Network in Worthen Arena on February 11, resulting in a 72-57 win for Ball State.Â
- Ball State is 3-0 in the MAC-SBC Challenge after posting victories against Troy (86-71), James Madison (72-57) and Old Dominion (60-46). James Madison enters the MAC-SBC Challenge 1-2 with losses to Toledo (60-49) and Ball State (72-57). The Dukes defeated Kent State on Nov. 4, 2024 by a score of 67-56.
- Ball State set a program record for best MAC start improving to 11-0 in league play after defeating Bowling Green 71-51 in Worthen Arena Wednesday.Â
- Ball State is one of only two teams that have won 13-straight contests while ranking 28th in the nation in win percentage (19-4 | .826). The Cardinals are one of 17 schools that remain undefeated in conference play, respecively.Â
- The Cardinals have been road warriors the past four years during Mid-American Conference action. Ball State owns a 33-10 (.767) 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.
- Ball State has won 15-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 Cardinals rank in the top 50 in the nation in these statistical categories; 43rd in turnover margin (4.50), 44th in blocks per game (4.3), 44th in scoring margin (14.9), 45th in field goal percentage (45.5), 46th in assists per game (16.2).
- Ally Becki ranks eighth in the nation in assists (132), ninth in assists per game (6.0), 30th in steals (56), 34th in steals per game (2.55) and 5th in double-doubles while Marie Kiefer sits at 33rd in blocks (40) and 41st in blocks per game (1.82).
- With the win over Texas A&M, Ball State head coach Brady Sallee has nowÂ
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 on Nov. 25, senior Marie Kiefer became Ball State women's basketball's all-time blocks leader with 153 total blocks passing former Cardinal Tamara Bowie who owned the record of 152 since 2003.
 - The Cardinals have held a halftime lead in 11 of their Mid-American Conference games so far this season. Ball State is 11-0 in those contests.
- Another MAC win for the Cardinals will earn Ball State a 12-0 conference ledger which is the best conference start among league members since Central Michigan did it in 2017-18.
- Ally Becki has made the ESPN top 10 plays twice this season. The senior is on pace to become the lone Division I player ever to average at least 10 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in every season since her freshman year in 2021-22.
- Madelyn Bischoff is 14 points away from becoming the 35th women's basketball player of all-time to reach the 1,000 point plateau and the 14th player under Ball State 13th-year head coach Brady Sallee.Â
Scouting James Madison:
- James Madison has been a member of the Sun Belt Conference since 2022 while Ball State has been a member of the Mid-American Conference since 1981-82. Much like Ball State both teams enter Saturday's contest on a 13-game win streak.
- James Madison and Ball State are both undefeated in the Sun Belt Conference and Mid-American Conference, respectively.
- James Madison owns four top-20 marks nationally: defensive rebounds per game (7th - 30.3), three-point percentage defense (8th - 24.7), rebounds per game (11th - 42.92) and field-goal percentage defense (20th - 36.1).
- The Dukes are 53rd in the latest NCAA Net Rankings through Feb. 6 games. James Madison's highest ranking since joining the Sun Belt Conference was 46th after games on Jan. 5, 2025. JMU is also the highest ranked team in the league, followed by Troy (103rd) and Coastal Carolina (120th).
Backs-Crashers and Keys:
For the fourth-straight season, the Cardinals are forgoing "traditional" positions and using their own such as backs, crashers, and keys, to bring a sense of team unity.
