Ball State University
Arkansas State University
Women's Basketball Opens Season at Arkansas State Monday in MAC/SBC Challenge Game
November 02, 2025 | Women's Basketball
| Ball State at Arkansas State (GAME 1) | MAC-SBC Challenge | |
| Game 1 at Arkansas State | Monday, November 3Â at 8Â pm ET | 7 pm CT |
| Gameday Info         | Live Stats | ESPN+ | Listen |
| Game Notes and Media Info | Ball State | Arkansas State |
| Social Media | X (Twitter)Â | Instagram | Facebook |
Opening Tip:Â
- The Ball State women's basketball team was picked fourth in the 2025-26 Mid-American Conference preseason poll. The Cardinals were also recognized as one of the favorites to win the tournament again this season.
- Ball State is coming off another historic season under 14th-year head coach Brady Sallee. The Cardinals return four players from the 2024-25 MAC regular season and tournament title squad. Last year's team made the programs second-ever appearance at the NCAA Tournament and ended the year with a 27-8 overall record.
- The Cardinals welcome back junior Tessa Towers, along with sophomores Zuri Ransom and Grace Kingery. All three logged minutes to help last year's championship team achieve their goals. Junior Ashlynn Brooke will re-enter the lineup as well after recovering from an injury that occurred in 2024.
- The additions to this year's team include transfers Karsyn Norman and Bree Salenbien. The Cardinals also bring in true freshmen Zhen Verburgt, Violeta Rojas, Alba Caballero, Giorgia Gorini, Brooke Winchester, Aniss Tagayi and Laura Martinez.
 - Ball State was picked 11th in the College Insider Women's Mid Major Top 25 poll. Only two teams from the Mid-American Conference made the top 25 the only other school was Kent State which was tabbed 10th.Â
Strong Scheduling:
Just like in years past, Brady Sallee and his staff have put together a challenging non-conference schedule which features four teams that competed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament; Arkansas State, Cincinnati, Louisville and South Dakota State.
It's GAMEDAY:
- Tonight's season opener is part of the Mid-American/Sun Belt Conference Challenge which is in its third season. This marks the second-ever meeting between Ball State and Arkansas State. The Red Wolves won that meeting over the Cardinals by a score of 74-72 on a neutral court on Nov. 23, 2001.Â
- Last season the Cardinals went 1-1 in the MAC/SBC Challenge. Ball State defeated Old Dominion at home by a 60-46 decision on iNov. 4, 2024. Ball State then lost at James Madison on Feb. 8, 2025 by a score of 78-74. The Cardinals own a 3-1 record in the MAC/SBC Challenge.Â
- Arkansas State is 2-2 in the MAC/SBC Challenge winning both contests against Northern Illinois (75-62) and Akron (81-67) in its inaugural year and then fell to Western Michigan (52-61) and Bowling Green (73-75) last season.Â
- Both Ball State and Arkansas State won their respective conference tournaments last season and participated in the first round the NCAA Tournament.Â
- Ball State is 5-8 under the direction of Brady Sallee in season openers. The Cardinals won their season opener last year at home against Old Dominion by a 60-46 decision on Nov. 4, 2024.
Sallee Strong:
Brady Sallee is known for developing his players into strong shooters,over the years. In the last two seasons the Cardinals have ranked in the top 75 nationally in offense. In 2023-24 the Cardinals were 53rd in offense averaging 72.7 points per game while in 2024-25 Ball State finished the year ranked 72nd averaging 72.5 points per game.
Road Warriors:
Under head coach Brady Sallee the Cardinals have played well on the road for the last 13 years under his watch. The Cardinals are 110-74 (.597) from 2012 until present on the road. Ball State's best season playing away from home was in 2020-21 when the Cardinals posted an 11-2 mark. Ball State will open the season with two straight road games before returning home on Nov. 12 against Northern Kentucky.
Scouting Arkansas State:
- Arkansas State women's basketball was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference in the 2025-26 Preseason Coaches Poll.
- Junior Crislyn Rose was selected to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team after a 2024-25 campaign that concluded with Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors alongside a Third Team All-Conference label. Rose averaged 10.0 points, a team-best 4.4 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game.
- Senior Zyion Shannon earned Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team honors after leading the team with 10.7 points per game on a 39.9% field goal percentage last season. The senior scored 10-plus points in 17 games and topped 20 points five times en route to Second Team All-Conference recognition.
- Arkansas State women's basketball (21-11, 15-3 SBC) concluded a historic season which featured the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance at UConn (32-3, 18-0 Big East), falling 103-34 on March 22, 2025 at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
- The 2024-25 Arkansas State Red Wolves finish as the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Champions for the first time in program history, securing the first winning season since 2015-16.
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