Hoosier State Today

Game 13 | Ball State (9-3) vs. Chicago State (0-16)

Dec. 30 | Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena | 6:30 pm ET

Opening Tip:

- Ball State is looking to close non-conference action with a 10-3 record when it hosts Chicago State Friday night in Worthen Arena. A win will mark the Cardinals best non-conference showing under 11th year head coach Brady Sallee since the 2017-18 season when Ball State made program history after finishing non-conference action, 11-0. 

- Tonight's contest promotion is "Take A Kid to a Game" day at Worthen Arena which is presented by The Cardinal Fanstore in The Village. With one paid adult ticket purchased, two kids 13 and under will receive a complimentary ticket along with a commemorative gift pack. The same promotion is good for the Ball State women's basketball game versus Bowling Green, Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Friday night's contest will be highlighted with a halftime performance with Simon Sez.

- Ball State returns to the court after the holiday break having went 1-1 at the Puerto Rico Classic. The Cardinals earned their second-straight overtime victory when Ball State defeated Tarleton State 80-77, Dec. 19. Ball State played a tight contest against Richmond in their second contest at the Puerto Rico Classic but lost that battle in the final minute, 73-75. 

- Chicago State is looking for its first win of the season having lost 16 straight. The Cardinals and the Cougars have met a total of 13 times with Ball State winning all those meetings. The last time these two teams met was Dec. 1, 2016, in Worthen Arena with the Cardinals winning that contest, 88-53.

 - Both Ally Becki and Thelma Dis Agustsdottir led the Cardinals in Puerto Rico averaging 17.0 points per game. Becki also registered her third double-double of the season after scoring 17 points against the Richmond Spiders Dec. 20 while also adding 10 rebounds.Fast Facts:

- Redshirt senior Anna Clephane currently leads the Cardinals is scoring averaging 12.1 points per game. Clephane has 922 points for her career and only needs 78 points to become the 10th player under Brady Sallee to reach the 1,000 point milestone. 

 - Sophomore Marie Kiefer has proven to be a great defender for the Cardinals. She currently sits in 12th place all-time in blocked shots with 63 and so far has 15 total this season. Kiefer averages 1.4 blocks per contest.

- Graduate senior Thelma Dis Agustsdottir has found her rhythm behind the arc again as she currently leads the team with 31 three's so far this season. Agustsdottir has 249 total 3-pointers for her career and sits in fifth place all-time. She needs four more to move up to fourth place which is currently being held by former Cardinal John Goff (2001-04) with 253 3-pointers. 

Return of the MAC:
- Under the direction of 11th-year head coach Brady Sallee, the Cardinals have had a wealth of success during MAC action. Sallee enters this conference season with 113-68 (.624) career MAC record. The Cardinals have punched their ticket straight to Cleveland in the MAC Tournament eight out of nine times under Sallee and have reached the championship game three times. Ball State earned a MAC West Division title in 2014-15 and has reached postseason play seven times including making it to the round of 16 at the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) in Sallee's inaugural year.

Next Game:
 After the Cardinals close out non-conference action at home Friday against Chicago State, Ball State will open up Mid-American Conference play at home Wednesday, Jan. 4 att 6:30 p.m. ET against Bowling Green. The Cardinals were predicted to finish second the MAC preseason coaches' poll.

Home Sweet Home:
John E. Worthen Arena has been very good to the Cardinals for the past decade. Ball State has a record of 164-85 (.653) at Worthen Arena from 2004-present. In 11 seasons Brady Sallee has compiled a 98-50 (.658)  record in Worthen Arena. His best season at home was in 2017-18 when the Cardinals went 15-3 in Muncie. So far this season the Cardinals are undefeated at home with a 5-0 mark. 

Ball State vs. Chicago State Series:
1977-78: Ball State 83, Chicago State 34 
1987-88: Ball State 87, Chicago State 45
1988-89: Ball State 70, Chicago State 51
1991-92: Ball State 79, Chicago State 73
1993-94: Ball State 77, Chicago State 63
1994-95: Ball State 89, Chicago State 55
1995-96: Ball State 69, Chicago State 49
1996-97: Ball State 77, Chicago State 64
1999-00: Ball State 78, Chicago State 54
2000-01: Ball State 74, Chicago State 44
2002-03: Ball State 71, Chicago State 48
2003-04: Ball State 83, Chicago State 74
2016-17: Ball State 88, Chicago State 53 

Original source can be found here.