Ball State Women's Basketball Selection Sunday Quotes
Brady Sallee
Q: “Coach, it's a special historic moment for Ball State women's basketball. You knew you were in the tournament, of course, because you won the MAC Tournament, but when you see Ball State come across the screen, what’s running through your mind?”
A: “It’s every player and coach’s dream to see your name pop up, and to watch our players explode when they see it is just a culmination of so much work and so much effort. We’re just proud to represent the MAC and proud to represent Ball State and this community. We’re going to be ready to play.”
Q: “You had a thank you message to the crowd, the players and everybody in that room right there. What does the community mean to this moment?”
A: “This was a family in here tonight—packed house—but it was so many people that have been with us through every step of the journey, along with the players and their parents. It’s just special to share it, right? What good is this if you can't enjoy it with the people you love? And we got plenty that love on us and any chance we get to love back is a good day.”
Q: “Have you ever been to Spokane?”
A: “I have been to Spokane, but I think our first stop is going to be in Waco, right? We end up in Spokane if we keep winning, but anyway it’s been a fun time. Wherever they would have sent us—Antarctica, even—we'd have been ready to play. I’m just excited to get to do this with this team for at least one more week.”
Q: “When you're thinking about all of the moments that you guys had in Cleveland, the bus ride back, time now back here in Muncie: what has this last couple of days just meant to you?”
A: “I’ve said it in a couple pressers. The trophies, the nets, the game balls, all that stuff is great, right? The memorabilia and what you get to look at and see is great, but the smiles on the faces, the time together, the locker room with the 14 players and your coaches, that's what this is all about. That's why we do what we do, and this is a special group to do it with.”
Jeff Mitchell
Q: “Ball State flashes across the screen, going to Texas to play Ole Miss. What does this moment mean for Ball State women’s basketball?”
A: “It means everything. I’m so proud of our team and so proud of coach Sallee and the coaching staff. They’ve worked so hard to prepare for this moment and to see the name on the screen is a moment of chills. Just the sheer excitement of representing Ball State University on the brightest stage is pretty significant for our team.”
Alex Richard
Q: “You know Ball State’s name is going to flash across the screen, but when you see it jump up there, what’s going through your head?”
A: “We’re just excited to be able to go represent the MAC, go try to make a name for ourselves and get far.”
Q: “What have the last couple of days been like for you?”
A: “Super surreal. Everything is just so nostalgic; everything is amazing. We’re on cloud nine now. It’s kind of time to come down and just be ready to go.”
Q: “Now that the selection show is over, how do you get ready these next couple of days to get to Texas?”
A: “We're a very level headed team. We're very mature, a lot of veterans on the team, so I think that it would be pretty easy to flip that switch, turn the page, move on and know that we need to go into some games.”
Q: “What is it like to celebrate your teammates right there?”
A: “It was amazing. It was the first time to be selected like this, so it’s just super nice.”
Ally Becki
Q: “Ball State comes across the screen, what’s running through your mind?”
A: “A million things. It’s just crazy how far we’ve come, and the four years that I’ve been here, we’ve been waiting to see our names across that screen. I’m just grateful for the opportunity really.”
Q: “You got to do this with your teammates, sit next to everybody, celebrate with the community. What was that moment like to be able to share with everybody?”
A: “It means a lot. The community has always had our back. They’ve been there since my freshman year, so seeing their hard work pay off—supporting us—is rewarding. Again, I’m just extremely grateful.”
Q: “When’s the last time you went to Texas?”
A: “I’ve never been to Texas.”
Q: “When you think back on the last couple of days, what has this been like for you?”
A: “I’m still trying to process it right now. I can’t even put it into words. Just this whole season’s just been like a blessing. The story’s still being written. I’m grateful for my teammates: they’ve made it. The coaches have been supportive throughout the whole process, so it’s just been great.”
Q: “You could see the emotion from Brady [Sallee] after the game. What was it like to see him get this and have this moment too?”
A: “Just to see him get this is awesome. The hard work that we’ve done has paid off for him too. He’s put in hours. He never sleeps at night. I’m just glad he can finally enjoy this. He took chances on all of us, and he saw all the things we didn’t necessarily even see in ourselves, so I’m just forever grateful for him and just the whole experience I’ve had here.”
Lachelle Austin
Q: “What’s running through your head right now, Lachelle?”
A: “It’s still exciting. We just won the MAC championship, and we get to play the best of the best right now. We’re just going out and making a name for ourselves.”
Q: “During the selection show, Ball State comes across the screen. How cool is it to just celebrate with this group at that moment?”
A: “It was great. I think we actually deserve it. We worked all season. After the game Saturday, we knew coming into here we were going to be excited because we made history basically and we knew that we have a good group. We’re just ready.”
Q: “You look back on the moments when the final buzzer sounds there in Cleveland. Can you go back to that moment and describe what that was in real time?”
A: “I think it was like three seconds on the clock left, and I ran into Ally, and the buzzer hadn’t gone off yet, and she almost turned the ball over. But once the buzzer went off, it was all real. We were all just hyped for each other. We made a dog pile, and we were just so happy we did it. We had faith going into it, and that’s what we did.”
Marie Kiefer
Q: “What have these last couple days been like for you?”
A: “It’s been crazy—stress, anxiety and fun. It’s been really good though. A lot of memories.”
Q: “What was the bus ride home like?”
A: “It was music the whole time. It was crazy No one ever settled down, even though we probably should have. It was a fun one.”
Q: “It’s probably been a lot to try and catch up with everything the last few days, right?”
A: “Yes, it’s been crazy, but we’ve done this the past four years with the tournament and stuff, so it’s been good.”
Q: “We've heard so often how close this group is. What was that like to celebrate with that group?”
A: “It was great. It was very surreal seeing the hard work that we put in come to life and knowing that we're going dancing.”
Q: “When you put into perspective why this team is ready to go to Texas, how would you capture that?”
A: “We’ve been working for it. We’ve been trying our best and doing hard work, so I think we’re ready.”
Madelyn Bischoff
Q: “Maddy, you get to see Ball State flash across the screen. Of course, you know that you're in the tournament, but what does it mean to see Ball State come across the screen?”
A: “It means a lot. I was so excited to see our name, and I was just excited to see where we’re going to play.”
Q: “You get to do this and celebrate with your teammates. What was it like to just cheer with everybody in that moment?”
A: “So exciting. I’ve been looking forward to this. I've been wanting this all four years of my college career, and I'm just so glad I got to do it this year with my teammates.”
Q: “What have the last couple of days been like for you?”
A: “Surreal. It hasn't even hit me it feels like. I've been just trying to take in the moments and just enjoy every second with all my teammates and coaches.”
Q: “When you watch back the videos and see the photos of the moments of winning the MAC Tournament, can you vividly just recall everything so far?”
A: Yes, but some things are a blur because it was just so crazy. It's definitely a moment I'll remember forever.”
Q: “How does Texas sound?”
A: “Good. I’m excited to go in the heat, and I’m excited to go down south.”
Brady Sallee
Q: “Coach, it's a special historic moment for Ball State women's basketball. You knew you were in the tournament, of course, because you won the MAC Tournament, but when you see Ball State come across the screen, what’s running through your mind?”
A: “It’s every player and coach’s dream to see your name pop up, and to watch our players explode when they see it is just a culmination of so much work and so much effort. We’re just proud to represent the MAC and proud to represent Ball State and this community. We’re going to be ready to play.”
Q: “You had a thank you message to the crowd, the players and everybody in that room right there. What does the community mean to this moment?”
A: “This was a family in here tonight—packed house—but it was so many people that have been with us through every step of the journey, along with the players and their parents. It’s just special to share it, right? What good is this if you can't enjoy it with the people you love? And we got plenty that love on us and any chance we get to love back is a good day.”
Q: “Have you ever been to Spokane?”
A: “I have been to Spokane, but I think our first stop is going to be in Waco, right? We end up in Spokane if we keep winning, but anyway it’s been a fun time. Wherever they would have sent us—Antarctica, even—we'd have been ready to play. I’m just excited to get to do this with this team for at least one more week.”
Q: “When you're thinking about all of the moments that you guys had in Cleveland, the bus ride back, time now back here in Muncie: what has this last couple of days just meant to you?”
A: “I’ve said it in a couple pressers. The trophies, the nets, the game balls, all that stuff is great, right? The memorabilia and what you get to look at and see is great, but the smiles on the faces, the time together, the locker room with the 14 players and your coaches, that's what this is all about. That's why we do what we do, and this is a special group to do it with.”
Jeff Mitchell
Q: “Ball State flashes across the screen, going to Texas to play Ole Miss. What does this moment mean for Ball State women’s basketball?”
A: “It means everything. I’m so proud of our team and so proud of coach Sallee and the coaching staff. They’ve worked so hard to prepare for this moment and to see the name on the screen is a moment of chills. Just the sheer excitement of representing Ball State University on the brightest stage is pretty significant for our team.”
Alex Richard
Q: “You know Ball State’s name is going to flash across the screen, but when you see it jump up there, what’s going through your head?”
A: “We’re just excited to be able to go represent the MAC, go try to make a name for ourselves and get far.”
Q: “What have the last couple of days been like for you?”
A: “Super surreal. Everything is just so nostalgic; everything is amazing. We’re on cloud nine now. It’s kind of time to come down and just be ready to go.”
Q: “Now that the selection show is over, how do you get ready these next couple of days to get to Texas?”
A: “We're a very level headed team. We're very mature, a lot of veterans on the team, so I think that it would be pretty easy to flip that switch, turn the page, move on and know that we need to go into some games.”
Q: “What is it like to celebrate your teammates right there?”
A: “It was amazing. It was the first time to be selected like this, so it’s just super nice.”
Ally Becki
Q: “Ball State comes across the screen, what’s running through your mind?”
A: “A million things. It’s just crazy how far we’ve come, and the four years that I’ve been here, we’ve been waiting to see our names across that screen. I’m just grateful for the opportunity really.”
Q: “You got to do this with your teammates, sit next to everybody, celebrate with the community. What was that moment like to be able to share with everybody?”
A: “It means a lot. The community has always had our back. They’ve been there since my freshman year, so seeing their hard work pay off—supporting us—is rewarding. Again, I’m just extremely grateful.”
Q: “When’s the last time you went to Texas?”
A: “I’ve never been to Texas.”
Q: “When you think back on the last couple of days, what has this been like for you?”
A: “I’m still trying to process it right now. I can’t even put it into words. Just this whole season’s just been like a blessing. The story’s still being written. I’m grateful for my teammates: they’ve made it. The coaches have been supportive throughout the whole process, so it’s just been great.”
Q: “You could see the emotion from Brady [Sallee] after the game. What was it like to see him get this and have this moment too?”
A: “Just to see him get this is awesome. The hard work that we’ve done has paid off for him too. He’s put in hours. He never sleeps at night. I’m just glad he can finally enjoy this. He took chances on all of us, and he saw all the things we didn’t necessarily even see in ourselves, so I’m just forever grateful for him and just the whole experience I’ve had here.”
Lachelle Austin
Q: “What’s running through your head right now, Lachelle?”
A: “It’s still exciting. We just won the MAC championship, and we get to play the best of the best right now. We’re just going out and making a name for ourselves.”
Q: “During the selection show, Ball State comes across the screen. How cool is it to just celebrate with this group at that moment?”
A: “It was great. I think we actually deserve it. We worked all season. After the game Saturday, we knew coming into here we were going to be excited because we made history basically and we knew that we have a good group. We’re just ready.”
Q: “You look back on the moments when the final buzzer sounds there in Cleveland. Can you go back to that moment and describe what that was in real time?”
A: “I think it was like three seconds on the clock left, and I ran into Ally, and the buzzer hadn’t gone off yet, and she almost turned the ball over. But once the buzzer went off, it was all real. We were all just hyped for each other. We made a dog pile, and we were just so happy we did it. We had faith going into it, and that’s what we did.”
Marie Kiefer
Q: “What have these last couple days been like for you?”
A: “It’s been crazy—stress, anxiety and fun. It’s been really good though. A lot of memories.”
Q: “What was the bus ride home like?”
A: “It was music the whole time. It was crazy No one ever settled down, even though we probably should have. It was a fun one.”
Q: “It’s probably been a lot to try and catch up with everything the last few days, right?”
A: “Yes, it’s been crazy, but we’ve done this the past four years with the tournament and stuff, so it’s been good.”
Q: “We've heard so often how close this group is. What was that like to celebrate with that group?”
A: “It was great. It was very surreal seeing the hard work that we put in come to life and knowing that we're going dancing.”
Q: “When you put into perspective why this team is ready to go to Texas, how would you capture that?”
A: “We’ve been working for it. We’ve been trying our best and doing hard work, so I think we’re ready.”
Madelyn Bischoff
Q: “Maddy, you get to see Ball State flash across the screen. Of course, you know that you're in the tournament, but what does it mean to see Ball State come across the screen?”
A: “It means a lot. I was so excited to see our name, and I was just excited to see where we’re going to play.”
Q: “You get to do this and celebrate with your teammates. What was it like to just cheer with everybody in that moment?”
A: “So exciting. I’ve been looking forward to this. I've been wanting this all four years of my college career, and I'm just so glad I got to do it this year with my teammates.”
Q: “What have the last couple of days been like for you?”
A: “Surreal. It hasn't even hit me it feels like. I've been just trying to take in the moments and just enjoy every second with all my teammates and coaches.”
Q: “When you watch back the videos and see the photos of the moments of winning the MAC Tournament, can you vividly just recall everything so far?”
A: Yes, but some things are a blur because it was just so crazy. It's definitely a moment I'll remember forever.”
Q: “How does Texas sound?”
A: “Good. I’m excited to go in the heat, and I’m excited to go down south.”