Ball State University Athletics
Wednesday, February 18
Buffalo, NY
6 pm
Ball State University
22-5,13-1MAC
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at
55
University at Buffalo
2-23,0-13MAC
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Women’s Basketball Crushes Buffalo 88–55 to Maintain MAC Lead
February 18, 2026 | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Ball State women's basketball team extended its dominance in Mid-American Conference play Wednesday night, securing a commanding 88–55 road victory over the Buffalo Bulls at Alumni Arena. The win marks the Cardinals' seventh consecutive victory and solidifies their position at the top of the MAC standings with a 13–1 league record.
Ball State led from the opening frame, outscoring Buffalo in every quarter. The Cardinals' defense held Buffalo to just 55 points, limiting the Bulls to single-digit scoring in the first quarter.
The Cardinals immediately took control, outscoring Buffalo 20–11 in the first period to build a quick nine-point advantage. Ball State's defense intensified in the second stanza, holding the Bulls to only nine points. By intermission, Ball State had doubled Buffalo's score, heading into the locker room with a commanding 44–23 lead.
A key factor in the early lead was the activity of the Ball State guards, who forced nine Buffalo turnovers in the first quarter alone, setting a fast-paced tempo that the Bulls could not match. The Cardinals combined this defensive pressure with clinical finishing, shooting 56% from the field and 47% from three-point range during their dominant early stretch.
The first half was paced by Grace Kingery with 10 points, this week's MAC Player of the Week, Bree Salenbien chipped in eight points as did Aniss Tagayi.
After intermission, Ball State continued its dominance in the second half by outpacing Buffalo 47-28 across the final two quarters.
The Cardinals broke the game open in the third quarter with a sharp offensive display, shooting 69.2% from the field (9-of-13) and 60% from three-point range to rack up 24 points and extend their lead to 65-42. This momentum carried into the fourth quarter, where Ball State added another 23 points behind a 47.6% shooting performance, effectively neutralizing any comeback attempt as they held the Bulls to just 13 points in the final frame.
Salebien led the way with 18 points, followed by Kingery's 15-point showing. Tessa Towers added 14 to the tally, while Tagayi rounded out the double-digit scoring with 12 points and a career-high-tying nine rebounds.
The Ball State women's basketball team travels to face rival Miami (OH) this Saturday, February 21, at 1 p.m. ET in Oxford.
Ball State led from the opening frame, outscoring Buffalo in every quarter. The Cardinals' defense held Buffalo to just 55 points, limiting the Bulls to single-digit scoring in the first quarter.
The Cardinals immediately took control, outscoring Buffalo 20–11 in the first period to build a quick nine-point advantage. Ball State's defense intensified in the second stanza, holding the Bulls to only nine points. By intermission, Ball State had doubled Buffalo's score, heading into the locker room with a commanding 44–23 lead.
A key factor in the early lead was the activity of the Ball State guards, who forced nine Buffalo turnovers in the first quarter alone, setting a fast-paced tempo that the Bulls could not match. The Cardinals combined this defensive pressure with clinical finishing, shooting 56% from the field and 47% from three-point range during their dominant early stretch.
The first half was paced by Grace Kingery with 10 points, this week's MAC Player of the Week, Bree Salenbien chipped in eight points as did Aniss Tagayi.
After intermission, Ball State continued its dominance in the second half by outpacing Buffalo 47-28 across the final two quarters.
The Cardinals broke the game open in the third quarter with a sharp offensive display, shooting 69.2% from the field (9-of-13) and 60% from three-point range to rack up 24 points and extend their lead to 65-42. This momentum carried into the fourth quarter, where Ball State added another 23 points behind a 47.6% shooting performance, effectively neutralizing any comeback attempt as they held the Bulls to just 13 points in the final frame.
Salebien led the way with 18 points, followed by Kingery's 15-point showing. Tessa Towers added 14 to the tally, while Tagayi rounded out the double-digit scoring with 12 points and a career-high-tying nine rebounds.
The Ball State women's basketball team travels to face rival Miami (OH) this Saturday, February 21, at 1 p.m. ET in Oxford.
Team Stats
BSU
UB
FG%
.472
.316
3FG%
.375
.158
FT%
.579
.762
RB
46
37
TO
13
22
STL
7
8
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Basketball
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