Exciting MLK Day Showdown: Ball State Women’s Basketball Hosts Akron and Toledo on CBS Sports Network!

Ball State vs. Akron
January 18, 2025 | Worthen Arena | 11:30 AM ET | Muncie, IN

Ball State vs. Toledo
January 20, 2025 | Worthen Arena | 11:00 AM ET | Muncie, IN | MLK Day
Broadcast on CBS Sports Network with Jacki Windon and Matt Shepard

Game Previews:

Ball State’s upcoming game against Akron will be their 51st clash. The Cardinals have a strong record, leading the all-time series 31-19. They’ve won 13 of the last 16 matchups, with Coach Brady Sallee owning a 13-8 record against the Zips. In their last encounter on February 28, 2024, Ball State dominated with a score of 75-41.

When facing Toledo, this will be the 94th meeting. The Rockets lead the series 62-31. Last season, Ball State beat Toledo at home on January 21, 2024, but lost in their next meeting on February 24, 2024.

Over the past four years, Ball State has been impressive on the road, holding a record of 30-10 in MAC games since 2021. This season, they are off to a strong start, winning their first five conference games and remaining the only undefeated team in the MAC.

Ball State hasn’t lost a regular-season MAC game since February 24, 2024, making it nine straight victories in league play.

A special shoutout goes to Ally Becki. She was named to the 2025 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List. Currently, she ranks fifth nationally in triple-doubles, 15th in overall assists, and 17th in assists per game. In the MAC, she leads in several categories, including assist-to-turnover ratio.

NET Rankings Update:
Ball State ranks 54th in the NCAA Division I NET rankings, the highest among MAC schools.

Coach Brady Sallee in January:
January is a good month for Sallee, who has a record of 73-29 in January games since becoming head coach in 2012.

Home Games at Worthen Arena:
Ball State has a solid home record of 195-87 since 2004. Under Sallee’s leadership, the team has won 129 games at home, with their best performance in the 2022-23 season, where they finished 15-1 at Worthen.

Dominance Inside the Paint:
The Cardinals have been effective in the paint, winning 10 out of 12 games where they outscored their opponents inside. Notable games include matches against Old Dominion and Northern Kentucky.

Capitalizing on Turnovers:
Ball State has forced 323 turnovers this season, turning them into 339 points across 16 games. This includes standout performances against teams like Miami and Anderson.

Strong First Halves:
When leading at halftime, Ball State has won 13 of 14 games this season. Their only loss was to Columbia, where they had a narrow lead at the break.

Lachelle Austin Nearing a Milestone:
Transfer Lachelle Austin is just 22 points away from her 1,000th career point. Previously a key player at Eastern Michigan, she has been a significant contributor for the Cardinals this season.

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