YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Ball State ladies’s basketball staff (20-5, 11-1 MAC) secured an 83–68 victory over Eastern Michigan (11-12, 4-8 MAC) on Tuesday evening in the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The win marks the Cardinals’ tenth consecutive regular-season victory over the Eagles and maintains their place close to the prime of the Mid-American Conference standings.
With tonight’s victory, Ball State head ladies’s basketball coach Brady Sallee has formally reached the 20-win mark for the ninth time in 14 seasons — Sallee’s 20+ win seasons at Ball State are — 22-10 (2015-16), 21-11 (2016-17) 25-7 (2017-18), 21-10 (2019-20), 20-13 (2021-22), 26-9 (2022-23), 20-2 (2023-24), 26-8 (2024-25) and 20-5 (2025-26).
The Cardinals opened the contest with an early scoring surge constructing a 13-4 lead over Eastern Michigan by the 4:28 mark of the first quarter, fueled by veteran Tessa Towers. Her dominance in the paint continued a streak of robust inside play, whereas Bree Salenbien and Karsyn Norman, stored the Eagles off-balance with a high-tempo transition recreation. Ball State continued to dictate the tempo to finish the first quarter forward of the Eagles, 19-11.
The momentum carried into the second stanza as the Cardinals discovered themselves up by 14-points (41-27) with 2:22 remaining in the half. Salenbien, taking part in in her house state, placed on a present with 10 factors in the second interval, serving to BSU head into halftime with a 32-22 benefit.
Ball State continued to manage the tempo in the second half by neutralizing Eastern Michigan’s prime offensive threats, Sisi Eleko and Peyton Hill. By the midpoint of the third quarter, Ball State held a 54–42 lead, successfully holding the Eagles at a double-digit distance for the the rest of the contest.
All-in-all the Cardinals’ high-tempo offense and disruptive protection compelled Eastern Michigan out of their rhythm for the full 40 minutes, with Ball State’s early dominance successfully sealing the street victory.
Towers anchored the offense with a extremely environment friendly 22 factors on 11-of-18 capturing, whereas Salenbien matched her with 22 factors of her personal. Norman delivered one of her standout convention performances, ending with 18 factors, seven rebounds, and 5 assists.
Ball State shot 48% from the ground and dominated the inside with 52 factors in the paint. The Cardinals additionally managed the glass, securing 46 whole rebounds, together with 30 on the defensive finish.
The Ball State ladies’s basketball staff will return house Saturday when it hosts Bowling Green at 11 am ET in Worthen Arena. The contest is a component of a double-header with the Ball State males’s basketball staff who will host Kent State at 2 pm ET.
With tonight’s victory, Ball State head ladies’s basketball coach Brady Sallee has formally reached the 20-win mark for the ninth time in 14 seasons — Sallee’s 20+ win seasons at Ball State are — 22-10 (2015-16), 21-11 (2016-17) 25-7 (2017-18), 21-10 (2019-20), 20-13 (2021-22), 26-9 (2022-23), 20-2 (2023-24), 26-8 (2024-25) and 20-5 (2025-26).
The Cardinals opened the contest with an early scoring surge constructing a 13-4 lead over Eastern Michigan by the 4:28 mark of the first quarter, fueled by veteran Tessa Towers. Her dominance in the paint continued a streak of robust inside play, whereas Bree Salenbien and Karsyn Norman, stored the Eagles off-balance with a high-tempo transition recreation. Ball State continued to dictate the tempo to finish the first quarter forward of the Eagles, 19-11.
The momentum carried into the second stanza as the Cardinals discovered themselves up by 14-points (41-27) with 2:22 remaining in the half. Salenbien, taking part in in her house state, placed on a present with 10 factors in the second interval, serving to BSU head into halftime with a 32-22 benefit.
Ball State continued to manage the tempo in the second half by neutralizing Eastern Michigan’s prime offensive threats, Sisi Eleko and Peyton Hill. By the midpoint of the third quarter, Ball State held a 54–42 lead, successfully holding the Eagles at a double-digit distance for the the rest of the contest.
All-in-all the Cardinals’ high-tempo offense and disruptive protection compelled Eastern Michigan out of their rhythm for the full 40 minutes, with Ball State’s early dominance successfully sealing the street victory.
Towers anchored the offense with a extremely environment friendly 22 factors on 11-of-18 capturing, whereas Salenbien matched her with 22 factors of her personal. Norman delivered one of her standout convention performances, ending with 18 factors, seven rebounds, and 5 assists.
Ball State shot 48% from the ground and dominated the inside with 52 factors in the paint. The Cardinals additionally managed the glass, securing 46 whole rebounds, together with 30 on the defensive finish.
The Ball State ladies’s basketball staff will return house Saturday when it hosts Bowling Green at 11 am ET in Worthen Arena. The contest is a component of a double-header with the Ball State males’s basketball staff who will host Kent State at 2 pm ET.