Women’s Basketball Falls to Rival Miami Saturday in Worthen

Saturday, January 24

Muncie, Ind.

11 am

Ball State University

15-5,7-1MAC

Miami University (OH)

16-4,8-0MAC

Miami (OH)

Ball St.

Women’s Basketball Falls to Rival Miami Saturday in Worthen

January 24, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State women's basketball team lost to Miami (OH) Saturday in Worthen Arena with a final score of 72-52.

The Cardinals (15-5, 7-1 MAC) entered the game as the top scoring team in the Mid-American Conference but were held to a season-low by the RedHawks (16-4, 8-0 MAC).

The two rivals will meet again in late February in a rematch in Oxford, Ohio on Feb. 21.

It was a heated battle of the birds throughout today's contest. The first quarter saw Ball State and rival Miami at each other's throats. The up-and-down affair resulted in the RedHawks taking a 18-13 first quarter lead over the Cardinals despite Ball State opening the game with a 5-0 run after baskets from Bree Salenbien and Aniss Tagayi.

Miami extended its lead in the second frame to 10 (29-19) by the media timeout while Ball State struggled to get the ball to drop despite having some good looks inside paint. After the media timeout, the Cardinals strung together a 11-5 run after layups from Salenbien, Grace Kingery and Tessa Towers to make it a four-point (34-30) ball game at the half.

Unfortunately, the Cardinals momentum diminished after the break. Ball State had to fight for every basket to put points on the board, but the RedHawks answered on their ensuing possessions to go back up by 12 (49-37) with 5:45 remaining in the third frame. From there the Cardinals continued to make uncharacteristic mistakes that they couldn't come back from and the RedHawks capitalized by extended their lead to 22 (61-39) to end the third quarter of play.

The Cardinals were unable to come back from their 22-point third period deficit despite their efforts in the final frame which resulted in Ball State's first conference loss of the season.

For the game, Salenbien led Ball State offensively with 18 points and nine rebounds.

The Ball State women's basketball team will go on the road Wednesday when it plays at Central Michigan Wednesday. The game is slated to begin at 6:30 pm ET in McGuirk Arena.