CLEVELAND – Ball State women’s basketball has not lost a basketball game since Feb. 22 against rival Kent State.
Head coach Brady Sallee did not beat around the bush; he said Kent State straight up whooped the Cardinals in their Feb. 22 matchup. Sallee said Ball State had a come to Jesus after getting beat by the Golden Flashes, and their improvement has led them to a chance at a Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament Championship.
Ball State (26-7, 17-2 MAC) defeated Kent State (21-12, 12-7 MAC) in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament to advance to their first appearance in the MAC championship game since the 2021-22 season.
The veteran leadership took the Feb. 22 loss and used it as an opportunity to get better, which is not something a lot of teams would do when March is knocking on the door, Sallee said.
“This group has let me keep coaching, and that's been the fun part of it for me, and it's why they're a special group,” Sallee said.
Senior Lachelle Austin said the Cardinals grew and regrouped in their last loss against Kent State. She said knowing there was a loss to the Golden Flashes still in their minds, the Cardinals knew they had to take care of business today.
Austin led the Cardinals with 21 points, a season-high, and was 8-for-11 from the field. Austin said her scoring was just all in the flow of the game, and a sense of composure also aided her scoring, knowing teammates would find her open.
Sallee said the Cardinals started exactly how they wanted and what was needed. Because they started so well and played well throughout the game, he said he did not have to do a whole lot of coaching today.
“Everything we did today had a real purpose behind it,” Sallee said. “You could see that there were no guessing games out there today.”
Senior Ally Becki said the connection is so deep with the Cardinals that it is almost a tangible feeling. She said she could feel the connectivity and feel how badly each player wants to win. Out of those characteristics, Becki said she has true pride in how Ball State plays basketball.
“It was something special,” Becki said. “I haven't felt that way in a while about a team, and this team has been bringing it.”
Becki – who is also celebrating a birthday today – said she was emotional before the tip. She said she had felt the Holy Spirit.
“Something about today was special,” Becki said.
The senior had 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting. She also had nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block.
Ball State will now have to turn around to the championship game tomorrow morning. Sallee said the Cardinals have a two-hour rule. Enjoy it, celebrate, smile, and have fun, but after those two hours it is full steam ahead on the championship battle.
Although there is a game still to play, the Cardinals will have an image of their final practice in Worthen Arena on their minds.
Sallee and each Ball State player stood in the paint, together. He told them that on championship Saturday, around 1-1:30 p.m., he would meet them on the top of a ladder.
“We got 40 minutes to go lay it on the line,” Sallee said. “It's everything that any basketball player wants to do… Regardless of the game, we get to go do this again. They love each other that much.”
Ball State will play the winner of Toledo vs. Buffalo at 11 a.m. March 15 with a MAC Tournament Championship on the line and the chance to go dancing in the NCAA Tournament.
Contact Elijah Poe via email at elijah.poe@bsu.edu or on X @ElijahPoe4.
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