Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
#8 Western Michigan (Quarterfinals)
Top-seeded Cardinals Face No. 8 Western Michigan Wednesday in MAC Tourney Semifinals
March 11, 2025 | Women's Basketball
| No. 1 Ball State Women's Basketball vs. No. 8 Western Michigan (2025 MAC Tournament Quarterfinals) | |
| Game 32 vs. No. 8 Western Michigan | Wednesday, March 12 at 11 a.m. ET Live Stats | ESPN+ | Listen |
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| Game Notes and Media Info | Ball State | Western Michigan |
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Opening Tip:
- The last time Ball State and Western Michigan met in the Mid-American Conference Tournament was in the first round in 2010. The Cardinals defeated then Broncos that year by a score of 67-43 in Worthen Arena.
- Wednesday's game against Western Michigan will mark the 95th time in program history the two schools have met with Ball State leading the all-time series record, 55-39. The Cardinals won the two-game series over the Broncos this season after beating WMU 61-51 in Muncie (2/2/25) and then in Kalamazoo by a 55-45 decision (3/1/25). Ball State has won 11-straight over Western Michigan.
- Ball State owns a 35-8 ledger over Western Michigan dating back to the 2004-05 season. Brady Sallee holds an 22-4 career mark against the Broncos.
- With the win against Buffalo on March 5, the Cardinals claimed sole possession of the Mid-American Conference regular season title for the first time in 22 years. The last time the Cardinals earned the title was in 2002-03. Ball State will enter next week's MAC Tournament as the No. 1 seed in Cleveland for the first time since 2009 when Ball State won the tournament.
- This marks the 35th appearance in the Mid-American Conference Tournament in program history. Ball State has advanced to Cleveland 23 out of the past 25 seasons. The Cardinals are 24-33 all-time in MAC Tournament play and have advanced to the MAC Tournament finals on six occasions. Ball State defeated Bowling Green in 2009 in the MAC Tournament Championship game. This is the 10th time in current head coach Brady Sallee's tenure the Cardinals have punched their ticket straight to the MAC Tournament in Cleveland.
- Ball State head coach Brady Sallee owns a 8-11 overall Mid-American Conference Tournament mark. The last time the Cardinals reached the final game was in 2022 when Ball State fell to Buffalo by a score of 79-74.
- Ball State has been the No. 1 seed in the tournament only four times; 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2025.
- Ball State owns a 10-2 record in the 2025 MAC Tournament bracket. The two losses for the Cardinals game against second-seeded Toledo and fourth-seeded Kent State.
Last Time They Met in the MAC Tourney:
- No. 2 Bowling Green 70, No. 3 Ball State 61 (2023 MAC Semifinals)
- 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. 3 Kent State 65, No. 2 Ball State 50 (2024 MAC Semifinals)
- No. 6 Western Michigan 65, No. 3 Ball State 54 (2010 MAC Quarterfinals)
- No. 5 Central Michigan 86, No. 12 Ball State 62 (2012 MAC First Round)
- No. 1W Ball State 76, No. 4E Miami 51 (2009 MAC Quarterfinals)
A Look Back at the Road to the 2009 MAC Tourney Win:
Quarterfinals • Quicken Loans Arena • Cleveland, Ohio (2,523)
W1 Ball State 76, E4 Miami 51
Semifinals • Quicken Loans Arena • Cleveland, Ohio (2,571)
W1 Ball State 68, E6 Buffalo 54
Championship • Quicken Loans Arena • Cleveland, Ohio (3,113)
W1 Ball State 55, E1 Bowling Green 51
Scouting Western Michigan:
- This is the second-straight season the Broncos have earned a spot at the Mid-American Conference Tournament as the No. 8 seed. The Broncos were the No. 8 seed last season losing to top-seeded Toledo on March 13, 2024 by a 72-61 decision.
- The Cardinals and the Broncos first meeting in the Mid-American Conference Tournament was in 1989 when Ball State was the No. 4 seed defeating fifth-seeded Western Michigan by a score of 81-59.
- Shane Clipfell first year as the head coach of the Broncos was also Brady Sallee's first year at Ball State. Clipfell was familiar with the MAC as he was an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan for nine seasons.
- The Broncos are led in scoring by Hannah Spitzley (13.6 ppg) and Marina Asensio (13.3) ppg. Spitzley also leads the squad defensively averaging 5.3 rebounds per game.
