CLEVELAND — Ball State women’s basketball kicked off its Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament journey March 12 with a first-round victory over Western Michigan. Though Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio is a neutral site, the Ball State bench sat in front of a crowd of Cardinal fans, the Ball State band, Code Red dancers and cheerleaders.
“You've got not just 14 players in this thing. You've got your administrators, you've got your band, you've got your cheerleaders, you've got your fans [and] a lot of family,” Ball State head coach Brady Sallee said. “It takes it all to have a program like we have, and we're really proud of our program.
The Cardinals have been in the MAC Tournament every year since the conference decided to only allow the top eight teams in the event in 2020. However, some fans have been to the tournament multiple times and others have made it since it was first held in ‘The Land’ 25 years ago.
“They need our support, both home and away,” Ken Briner said. “...[The teams] like to see that support wherever they’re at.”
Ken — a Ball State graduate — and his wife, Peggy, have been longtime supporters of the athletic program. The Briners Sports Complex in Muncie is named after them. The couple go to every home game for both the men’s and women’s Cardinal basketball teams. To them, it’s important to continue that support in the postseason.
But it’s not just alumni and Ball State fans who are at the tournament supporting the Cardinals. Students are also in the arena. Senior Ball State band member Olivia Sloniker has been to Cleveland the last four years for the event. To her, the best part is supporting this women’s roster.
“Every single year, every game, no matter if it’s a win or loss, the women come over to us and they chat with us and they play the fight song with us,” Sloniker said. “They give us something … We’ve brought posters that we've made, we bring our cameras and we do everything we can to support our women.”
The players integrating themselves with the band and other campus groups is something that gives people like Sloniker pride in what she does. To her, the school is being represented by a team full of good people.
“Just today when we walked in, they saw us, and they went, ‘Hey, band.’ And we got so into it,” she said. “Seeing athletes that appreciate the spirit, it makes your life, one, so much easier, two, so much better, and three, so much more enjoyable.”
Ball State Athletics has noticed the support for this team specifically. Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell was at the opening contest and said the support is because of what the program has become under Sallee and this group.
“It means everything in terms of the type of community and fan support that we're building here at Ball State,” Mitchell said. “It’s certainly reflective of the type of program that our women's basketball team has here at Ball State. It's not a surprise for me to walk into the arena here in Cleveland and see all these Cardinals.
“As I was coming into the arena, I got ‘Chrip, chirps’ and ‘Go Cards.’ It's awesome and I get excited thinking about it.”
Ball State will play their next game Friday, March 14 at 10 a.m. They will face the No. 4 seed Kent State.
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or via X @ZachCarter85.
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