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2024–25 Ball State Cardinals women's basketball team

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2024–25 Ball State Cardinals women's basketball
NCAA tournament, first round
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record27–8 (16–2 MAC)
Head coach
Associate head coachAudrey Spencer
Assistant coaches
  • Moriah Monaco
  • Casey Morrissette
  • Mariah King
Home arenaWorthen Arena
Seasons
← 2023–24
2025–26 →
2024–25 Mid-American Conference women's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Ball State † 16 – 2   .889 27 – 8   .771
Toledo 13 – 5   .722 24 – 9   .727
Buffalo 13 – 5   .722 30 – 7   .811
Kent State 12 – 6   .667 21 – 12   .636
Miami (OH) 11 – 7   .611 19 – 12   .613
Bowling Green 11 – 7   .611 18 – 13   .581
Central Michigan 9 – 9   .500 14 – 17   .452
Western Michigan 8 – 10   .444 12 – 18   .400
Northern Illinois 6 – 12   .333 13 – 17   .433
Akron 4 – 14   .222 10 – 21   .323
Ohio 4 – 14   .222 6 – 23   .207
Eastern Michigan 1 – 17   .056 2 – 27   .069
† 2025 MAC tournament winner

The 2024–25 Ball State Cardinals women's basketball team represented Ball State University during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by 13th-year head coach Brady Sallee, played their home games at Worthen Arena in Muncie, Indiana as members of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

With a 16–2 record, 27–8 overall, the Cardinals finished first in the MAC[1] and they defeated Western Michigan,[2] Kent State[3] and Toledo to win their second MAC tournament title, and first since 2009, to advance to the NCAA tournament.[4] Ally Becki was the tournament MVP.[5] As a 12 seed, they lost to Ole Miss in the Round of 64.[6]

Previous season

[edit]

The Cardinals finished the 2023–24 season 28–6, 16–2 in MAC play, to finish in second place.[7] They defeated Ohio[8] before falling to eventual tournament champions Kent State in the semifinals of the MAC tournament.[9] They received an at-large bid to the WBIT,[10] where they were defeated by Belmont in the first round.[11]

Preseason

[edit]

On October 22, 2024, the MAC released the preseason coaches poll. Ball State was picked to finish first in the MAC regular season. Ball State received eight votes to win the MAC tournament.[12]

Preseason rankings

[edit]
MAC preseason poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Ball State 120 (10)
2 Kent State 104 (2)
3 Buffalo 98
4 Bowling Green 96
5 Toledo 82
T–6 Northern Illinois 64
Ohio 64
8 Miami (OH) 44
9 Akron 43
10 Western Michigan 34
11 Eastern Michigan 23
12 Central Michigan 20

MAC tournament champions: Ball State (8), Bowling Green (1), Buffalo (1), Kent State (1), Toledo (1)

Source:[12]

Preseason All-MAC

[edit]
Preseason All-MAC teams
Team Player Year
1st Ally Becki Senior
2nd Madelyn Bischoff Senior

Source:[12]

Roster

[edit]
2024–25 Ball State Cardinals women's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Ally Becki 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Sr Brownsburg High School Brownsburg, IN
F 2 Maliyah "MJ" Johnson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) GS Texas A&M Chicago, IL
G 3 Sydney Bolden 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Jr Loganville High School Loganville, GA
G 11 Lachelle Austin 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) Sr Eastern Michigan Redford, MI
F 14 Marie Kiefer 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Sr Bishop Brossart High School Alexandria, KY
G 15 Ashlynn Brooke 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) So Pioneer High School Royal Center, IN
F 20 Alex Richard 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Sr Butler Avon, IN
C 22 Tessa Towers 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Jr Wisconsin Batavia, IL
G 23 Zuri Ransom 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Fr Evanston High School Evanston, IL
G 24 Madelyn Bischoff 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Sr Roncalli High School Indianapolis, IN
G 25 Grace Kingery 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) Fr North Ridgeville High School North Ridgeville, OH
G 30 Hailey Smith 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) So Fishers High School Fishers, IN
G 31 Olivia Smith 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) So Fishers High School Fishers, IN
F 42 Elise Stuck 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) GS Michigan Charlevoix, MI
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: February 25, 2025

Schedule and results

[edit]
Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 30, 2024*
6:30 p.m. 		IU Kokomo W 98–45  –
   –      –      –    Worthen Arena 
Muncie, IN
Non-conference regular season
November 4, 2024*
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		Old Dominion
MAC–SBC Challenge 		W 60–46  1–0
  13 – Becki   11 – Kiefer   3 – Becki  Worthen Arena (1,713)
Muncie, IN
November 8, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		IU Indy W 89–63  2–0
  21 – Becki   6 – 2 tied   9 – Becki  Worthen Arena (4,018)
Muncie, IN
November 13, 2024*
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		Memphis W 95–66  3–0
  22 – Becki   10 – Becki   10 – Becki  Worthen Arena (1,809)
Muncie, IN
November 16, 2024*
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Northern Iowa W 76–70  4–0
  18 – 2 tied   9 – 2 tied   3 – 3 tied  McLeod Center (2,338)
Cedar Falls, IA
November 23, 2024*
6:30 p.m., FloHoops 		vs. No. 16 North Carolina
Battle 4 Atlantis quarterfinals 		L 52–63  4–1
  19 – Bischoff   7 – 2 tied   7 – Becki  Imperial Arena (572)
Paradise Island, Bahamas
November 24, 2024*
9:00 p.m., FloHoops 		vs. Texas A&M
Battle 4 Atlantis consolation 2nd round 		W 75–62  5–1
  17 – 2 tied   6 – Becki   9 – Becki  Imperial Arena 
Paradise Island, Bahamas
November 25, 2024*
5:00 p.m., FloHoops 		vs. Columbia
Battle 4 Atlantis 5th-place game 		L 62–69  5–2
  15 – Austin   7 – 2 tied   6 – Becki  Imperial Arena (131)
Paradise Island, Bahamas
December 1, 2024*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		South Dakota State L 55–63  5–3
  19 – Kiefer   8 – Kiefer   2 – Johnson  Worthen Arena (1,200)
Muncie, IN
December 5, 2024*
11:00 a.m., ESPN+ 		Davidson W 80–61  6–3
  20 – Becki   6 – Austin   5 – Becki  Worthen Arena (5,049)
Muncie, IN
December 10, 2024*
6:00 p.m., B1G+ 		at No. 11 Ohio State L 48–80  6–4
  10 – Johnson   7 – 2 tied   4 – Becki  Value City Arena (4,977)
Columbus, OH
December 15, 2024*
3:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Northern Kentucky W 77–51  7–4
  23 – Kingery   9 – Kiefer   6 – 2 tied  Truist Arena (2,124)
Highland Heights, KY
December 19, 2024*
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		Anderson W 112–35  8–4
  16 – Stuck   9 – H. Smith   7 – Becki  Worthen Arena (1,565)
Muncie, IN
MAC regular season
January 1, 2025
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Miami (OH) W 68–55  9–4
(1–0) 		 22 – Becki   10 – Stuck   7 – Becki  Millett Hall (537)
Oxford, OH
January 4, 2025
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Central Michigan W 72–61  10–4
(2–0) 		 20 – Becki   8 – Becki   5 – Becki  Worthen Arena (1,704)
Muncie, IN
January 8, 2025
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		Eastern Michigan W 101–69  11–4
(3–0) 		 21 – Richard   10 – 2 tied   11 – Austin  Worthen Arena (2,145)
Muncie, IN
January 11, 2025
2:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Buffalo W 78–56  12–4
(4–0) 		 20 – Stuck   15 – Stuck   5 – 2 tied  Alumni Arena (1,242)
Amherst, NY
January 15, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Kent State W 66–57  13–4
(5–0) 		 17 – Austin   9 – 2 tied   6 – Becki  MAC Center (1,157)
Kent, OH
January 18, 2025
11:30 a.m., ESPN+ 		Akron W 80–57  14–4
(6–0) 		 18 – Bischoff   6 – Kiefer   6 – Becki  Worthen Arena 
Muncie, IN
January 20, 2025
11:00 a.m., CBSSN 		Toledo W 77–63  15–4
(7–0) 		 26 – Becki   8 – Richard   9 – Becki  Worthen Arena (1,810)
Muncie, IN
January 25, 2025
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Northern Illinois W 81–62  16–4
(8–0) 		 20 – Becki   10 – Richard   5 – Becki  Convocation Center 
DeKalb, IL
January 29, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Ohio W 83–61  17–4
(9–0) 		 23 – Becki   16 – Kiefer   12 – Becki  Convocation Center (980)
Athens, OH
February 1, 2025
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Western Michigan W 61–51  18–4
(10–0) 		 23 – Richard   9 – Richard   4 – Austin  Worthen Arena (2,025)
Muncie, IN
February 5, 2025
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		Bowling Green W 71–51  19–4
(11–0) 		 20 – Bischoff   11 – Richard   10 – Becki  Worthen Arena (2,102)
Muncie, IN
February 8, 2025*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at James Madison
MAC–SBC Challenge 		L 74–78  19–5
  22 – Richard   9 – Richard   10 – Austin  Atlantic Union Bank Center (2,970)
Harrisonburg, VA
February 15, 2025
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Eastern Michigan W 74–69  20–5
(12–0) 		 20 – Becki   11 – Kiefer   5 – 2 tied  George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,408)
Ypsilanti, MI
February 19, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Toledo L 66–70  20–6
(12–1) 		 33 – Richard   8 – Becki   8 – Becki  Savage Arena (4,158)
Toledo, OH
February 22, 2025
12:00 p.m., ESPNU/ESPN+ 		Kent State L 54–60  20–7
(12–2) 		 15 – Becki   9 – Richard   4 – Becki  Worthen Arena 
Muncie, IN
February 26, 2025
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Central Michigan W 60–58 OT 21–7
(13–2) 		 17 – Austin   16 – Kiefer   5 – Becki  McGuirk Arena (1,050)
Mount Pleasant, MI
March 1, 2025
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Western Michigan W 55–45  22–7
(14–2) 		 29 – Richard   13 – Kiefer   5 – Becki  University Arena (720)
Kalamazoo, MI
March 5, 2025
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		Buffalo W 72–60  23–7
(15–2) 		 20 – Richard   13 – Kiefer   9 – Becki  Worthen Arena (1,755)
Muncie, IN
March 8, 2025
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Ohio W 82–57  24–7
(16–2) 		 25 – Richard   10 – Richard   10 – Becki  Worthen Arena 
Muncie, IN
MAC tournament
March 12, 2025
11:00 a.m., ESPN+ 		(1) vs. (8) Western Michigan
Quarterfinals 		W 82–53  25–7
  17 – Richard   13 – Kiefer   8 – Becki  Rocket Arena 
Cleveland, OH
March 14, 2025
10:00 a.m., ESPN+ 		(1) vs. (4) Kent State
Semifinals 		W 70–53  26–7
  21 – Austin   9 – Becki   7 – Becki  Rocket Arena 
Cleveland, OH
March 15, 2025
11:00 a.m., CBSSN 		(1) vs. (2) Toledo
Championship 		W 65–58  27–7
  28 – Richard   9 – Richard   5 – Becki  Rocket Arena 
Cleveland, OH
NCAA tournament – Spokane Regional 1
March 21, 2025
6:00 p.m., ESPNU 		(12 S1) vs. (5 S1) No. 25 Ole Miss
Round of 64 		L 65–83  27–8
  19 – Becki   8 – Austin   2 – Becki  Foster Pavilion (4,416)
Waco, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern.

Sources:[13][14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2024-25 Women's Basketball Standings". getsomemaction.com. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  2. ^ "Women's Basketball Advances to MAC Tourney Semifinals Friday with Win over Western Michigan". Ball State University Athletics. March 12, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  3. ^ "Championship Bound; Women's Basketball Takes Down Kent State in MAC Tourney Semi's". Ball State University Athletics. March 14, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  4. ^ "NCAA Bound!!! Women's Basketball Claims MAC Tournament Title". Ball State University Athletics. March 15, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025. 13-year head coach Brady Sallee has the Cardinals heading back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2009 season
  5. ^ "Ball State earns first MAC title since '09 with win over Toledo". ESPN. Associated Press. March 15, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  6. ^ "Cardinals End Historic Season with First-Round Loss to No. 5 Ole Miss in NCAA Tournament". Ball State University Athletics. March 21, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  7. ^ "2023-24 Women's Basketball Standings". Mid-American Conference. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  8. ^ Poe, Elijah (March 13, 2024). "We want it the most: Ball State women's basketball defeats Ohio in first round of MAC Tournament". Ball State Daily. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  9. ^ "Women's Basketball Loses Hard Fought Battle in MAC Tourney Semis Against Kent State". Ball State University Athletics. March 15, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  10. ^ "2024 WBIT: Bracket, schedule, TV channels for the women's tournament". NCAA.com. April 3, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  11. ^ Zuver, Caleb (March 21, 2024). "3 takeaways from Ball State women's basketball season-ending loss against Belmont in the WBIT". The Ball State Daily News. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c "MAC Announces 2024-25 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll & Teams". Mid-American Conference. October 22, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  13. ^ "2024-25 Women's Basketball Schedule". Ball State University Athletics. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  14. ^ "Ball State Cardinals Schedule 2024-25". ESPN. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
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