Ball State University Athletics
Monday, November 2
Muncie, Ind.
6:30 PM
Ball State University
1-0,0-0MAC
84
vs
74
Arkansas State University
0-1,0-0Sun Belt
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas St. | 17 | 15 | 21 | 21 | 74 |
| Ball St. | 18 | 18 | 25 | 23 | 84 |
November 02, 2026 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. — The Ball State women's basketball team made a major opening-night statement at Worthen Arena Monday night, dominating Arkansas State 84-74 to kick off the 2026–27 regular season with a victory in the MAC-Sun Belt Conference Challenge.
Grace Kingery was unstoppable, logging a career-best 33 points in 36 minutes of action. The sharpshooter did damage from all over the court, knocking down four 3-pointers and converting 9-of-11 attempts from the free-throw line. Her explosive scoring presence consistently broke down the Red Wolves' defense whenever they tried to assemble a run.
Meanwhile, Lilli Barnes enjoyed a dream collegiate debut. The dynamic freshman controlled the tempo and the interior, racking up 18 points and anchoring the floor with seven assists and two blocked shots. Barnes was relentless driving to the hoop, drawing constant contact to finish 10-of-13 from the charity stripe. Graduate student center Tessa Towers also wreaked havoc inside, chipping in 17 points on an efficient 7-of-13 shooting night.
It was déjà vu for the Cardinals as they opened their season against Arkansas State for the second consecutive year in the MAC-SBC Challenge. Ball State picked up right where it left off, jumping out to an early 7-2 run capped off by an Aniss Tagayi jumper. As the opening frame progressed, the Red Wolves managed to close the gap, pulling ahead 12-11 at the 3:34 mark. The contest quickly turned into a back-and-forth battle characterized by strong defensive presence from both squads, but Ball State held on to a slim 18-17 edge at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter mimicked the first, but this time Barnes proved to be the savior for the Cardinals. Showing immense grit, the true freshman registered a double-double before the break, heading into the locker room with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Guided by her standout performance, the Cardinals carried a 36-32 advantage over the Red Wolves into intermission.
After the break, the contest remained tight, but at the 8:25 mark, Ball State began to find its offensive rhythm. Through strategic adjustments, the Cardinals consistently earned trips to the charity stripe, while Kingery caught fire from deep, knocking down three 3-pointers to push the BSU advantage to 55-43 with 3:51 on the clock.
Ball State also found sustained success in the paint, fueled by put backs from Tessa Towers and a series of aggressive driving layups from Barnes. This inside-outside execution ultimately propelled the Cardinals to a 61-53 lead as both squads headed into the final 10 minutes of action.
Although Arkansas State pulled within three points at 67-64 midway through the fourth quarter, the Cardinals remained unfazed. Ball State quickly answered the Red Wolves' surge, pushing the lead back to eight within a minute. From there, the Cardinals maintained complete control to secure the season-opening victory.
The true story of the game layout was Ball State's absolute supremacy in the rebounding department. The Cardinals physically outmatched the Red Wolves, securing a massive 51-38 total rebounding advantage.
The Ball State women's basketball team continues its three-game homestand this Saturday, hosting High Point at 1 p.m. ET inside Worthen Arena.
Grace Kingery was unstoppable, logging a career-best 33 points in 36 minutes of action. The sharpshooter did damage from all over the court, knocking down four 3-pointers and converting 9-of-11 attempts from the free-throw line. Her explosive scoring presence consistently broke down the Red Wolves' defense whenever they tried to assemble a run.
Meanwhile, Lilli Barnes enjoyed a dream collegiate debut. The dynamic freshman controlled the tempo and the interior, racking up 18 points and anchoring the floor with seven assists and two blocked shots. Barnes was relentless driving to the hoop, drawing constant contact to finish 10-of-13 from the charity stripe. Graduate student center Tessa Towers also wreaked havoc inside, chipping in 17 points on an efficient 7-of-13 shooting night.
It was déjà vu for the Cardinals as they opened their season against Arkansas State for the second consecutive year in the MAC-SBC Challenge. Ball State picked up right where it left off, jumping out to an early 7-2 run capped off by an Aniss Tagayi jumper. As the opening frame progressed, the Red Wolves managed to close the gap, pulling ahead 12-11 at the 3:34 mark. The contest quickly turned into a back-and-forth battle characterized by strong defensive presence from both squads, but Ball State held on to a slim 18-17 edge at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter mimicked the first, but this time Barnes proved to be the savior for the Cardinals. Showing immense grit, the true freshman registered a double-double before the break, heading into the locker room with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Guided by her standout performance, the Cardinals carried a 36-32 advantage over the Red Wolves into intermission.
After the break, the contest remained tight, but at the 8:25 mark, Ball State began to find its offensive rhythm. Through strategic adjustments, the Cardinals consistently earned trips to the charity stripe, while Kingery caught fire from deep, knocking down three 3-pointers to push the BSU advantage to 55-43 with 3:51 on the clock.
Ball State also found sustained success in the paint, fueled by put backs from Tessa Towers and a series of aggressive driving layups from Barnes. This inside-outside execution ultimately propelled the Cardinals to a 61-53 lead as both squads headed into the final 10 minutes of action.
Although Arkansas State pulled within three points at 67-64 midway through the fourth quarter, the Cardinals remained unfazed. Ball State quickly answered the Red Wolves' surge, pushing the lead back to eight within a minute. From there, the Cardinals maintained complete control to secure the season-opening victory.
The true story of the game layout was Ball State's absolute supremacy in the rebounding department. The Cardinals physically outmatched the Red Wolves, securing a massive 51-38 total rebounding advantage.
The Ball State women's basketball team continues its three-game homestand this Saturday, hosting High Point at 1 p.m. ET inside Worthen Arena.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballTeam Stats
ASU
BSU
FG%
.343
.443
3FG%
.189
.263
FT%
.633
.694
RB
37
51
TO
20
26
STL
12
3
Game Leaders
Pts
33
FGM
10
3FGM
4
FTM
9
Pts
18
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
10
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Thursday, August 27
Thursday, August 27
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Wednesday, August 19