Ball State Cardinals women's basketball
College basketball team
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The Ball State Cardinals women's basketball team represents the Ball State University in women's basketball. The school competes in the Mid-American Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Cardinals play home basketball games at Worthen Arena on the Ball State campus in Muncie, Indiana.[2]
(capacity: 11,500)
| Ball State Cardinals women's basketball | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| University | Ball State University | ||
| Head coach | Brady Sallee (14th season) | ||
| Location | Muncie, Indiana | ||
| Arena | Worthen Arena (capacity: 11,500) | ||
| Conference | Mid-American | ||
| Nickname | Cardinals | ||
| Colors | Cardinal and white[1] | ||
| NCAA Division I tournament second round | |||
| 2009 | |||
| NCAA Division I tournament appearances | |||
| 2009, 2025 | |||
| Conference tournament champions | |||
| 2009, 2025 | |||
| Conference regular-season champions | |||
| 2002, 2003, 2025, 2026 | |||
| Conference division champions | |||
| 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2015 | |||
| Uniforms | |||
| |||
Season-by-season record
As of the 2023–24 season, the Cardinals have a 665–708 record, with a 355–369 record in the Mid-American Conference.[3][4][5] Ball State has won the Mid-American Conference women's basketball tournament twice, in 2009 and 2025, while finishing as runner-up in 2002, 2003, 2007, and 2014. In their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the Cardinals (ranked as a 12 seed) beat the 5th seeded Tennessee Lady Volunteers 71–55, the first ever loss for the Lady Vols in the first round. They lost in the second round to Iowa State 71–57.[6]
They have won the MAC West Division in 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2015 while finishing as regular season champions in 2002, 2003, and 2025. They have made 11 appearances in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (2002, 2003, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2023), with a WNIT Final 16 appearance in 2013 and a Second Round appearance in 2016, 2018, and 2023.[7][8] On December 21, 2017, the Cardinals defeated Western Kentucky and remained undefeated in non-conference play for the first time in school history.[9]
Source[4]
| Season | Record | Conference record | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974–75 | 17–6 | n/a | Rosalie DiBrezzo |
| 1975–76 | 13–6 | n/a | Rosalie DiBrezzo |
| 1976–77 | 5–8 | n/a | Debbie Powers |
| 1977–78 | 7–6 | n/a | Sue Tussey |
| 1978–79 | 5–11 | n/a | Debbie Powers |
| 1979–80 | 6–13 | n/a | Debbie Powers |
| 1980–81 | 9–14 | n/a | Debbie Powers |
| 1981–82 | 8–14 | 3–4 | Debbie Powers |
| 1982–83 | 7–17 | 5–13 | Karen Fitzpatrick |
| 1983–84 | 4–21 | 2–16 | Karen Fitzpatrick |
| 1984–85 | 6–21 | 4–14 | Karen Fitzpatrick |
| 1985–86 | 13–14 | 9–9 | Marsha Reall |
| 1986–87 | 4–23 | 2–14 | Ethel Gregory |
| 1987–88 | 6–21 | 4–12 | Ethel Gregory |
| 1988–89 | 12–15 | 7–9 | Ethel Gregory |
| 1989–90 | 17–11 | 9–7 | Ethel Gregory |
| 1990–91 | 7–20 | 3–13 | Ethel Gregory |
| 1991–92 | 5–22 | 3–13 | Ethel Gregory |
| 1992–93 | 3–23 | 3–15 | Robyn Markey |
| 1993–94 | 6–20 | 4–14 | Robyn Markey |
| 1994–95 | 7–18 | 3–15 | Robyn Markey |
| 1995–96 | 6–20 | 3–15 | Robyn Markey |
| 1996–97 | 13–13 | 11–7 | Robyn Markey |
| 1997–98 | 10–16 | 7–11 | Robyn Markey |
| 1998–99 | 9–17 | 6–10 | Robyn Markey |
| 1999-00 | 16–13 | 8–8 | Brenda Oldfield |
| 2000–01 | 19–9 | 11–5 | Brenda Oldfield |
| 2001–02 | 24–8 | 13–3 | Tracy Roller |
| 2002–03 | 21–10 | 12–4 | Tracy Roller |
| 2003–04 | 13–16 | 7–9 | Tracy Roller |
| 2004–05 | 16–13 | 11–5 | Tracy Roller |
| 2005–06 | 17–12 | 9–7 | Tracy Roller |
| 2006–07 | 24–7 | 13–3 | Tracy Roller |
| 2007–08 | 15–15 | 11–5 | Tracy Roller (3–7) and Lisa McDonald (12–8) |
| 2008–09 | 26–9 | 14–2 | Kelly Packard |
| 2009–10 | 14–17 | 7–9 | Kelly Packard |
| 2010–11 | 9–21 | 4–12 | Kelly Packard |
| 2011–12 | 9–21 | 4–12 | Kelly Packard |
| 2012–13 | 17–16 | 12–4 | Brady Sallee |
| 2013–14 | 18–17 | 9–9 | Brady Sallee |
| 2014–15 | 17–14 | 13–5 | Brady Sallee |
| 2015–16 | 22–10 | 13–5 | Brady Sallee |
| 2016–17 | 21–11 | 14–4 | Brady Sallee |
| 2017–18 | 25–7 | 13–5 | Brady Sallee |
| 2018–19 | 8–23 | 3–15 | Brady Sallee |
| 2019–20 | 21–10 | 13–5 | Brady Sallee |
| 2020–21 | 14–11 | 12–8 | Brady Sallee |
| 2021–22 | 20–13 | 11–8 | Brady Sallee |
| 2022–23 | 26–9 | 14–4 | Brady Sallee |
| 2023–24 | 28–6 | 16–2 | Brady Sallee |
| 2024–25 | 27–8 | 16–2 | Brady Sallee |
| Overall | 692–716 | 371–372 |
Postseason appearances
NCAA Division I Tournament appearances
Ball State has appeared in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament twice. Their record is 1–2.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | #12 | First Round Second Round | #5 Tennessee #4 Iowa State | W 71–55 L 57–71 |
| 2025 | #12 | First Round | #5 Ole Miss | L 83-65 |
WBIT
The Cardinals have appeared in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament once. Their record is 0–1.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #4 | First | Belmont | L 77–59 |
WNIT
The Cardinals have appeared in the Women's National Invitation Tournament eleven times. Their record is 7–11. [10][11]
*- Overtime game
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | First | Louisville | W 95–84 |
| Second | Valparaiso | L 77–69 | |
| 2003 | First | Indiana State | W 91–87 * |
| Second | Missouri | L 88–77 | |
| 2007 | Round 2 | Kentucky | L 85–82 |
| 2013 | First | Minnesota | W 54–51 |
| Second | Northern Iowa | W 53–48 | |
| Third | Kansas State | L 60–48 | |
| 2014 | Round 1 | Northwestern | L 69–65 |
| 2015 | Round 1 | Middle Tennessee | L 69–58 |
| 2016 | Round 1 | Iowa | W 77–72 |
| Round 2 | St. Louis | L 59–57 | |
| 2017 | Round 1 | Indiana | L 71–58 |
| 2018 | Round 1 | Middle Tennessee | W 69–60 |
| Round 2 | Purdue | L 77–72 | |
| 2022 | Round 1 | Marquette | L 93–70 |
| 2023 | Round 1 | Belmont | W 101–86 |
| Round 2 | Memphis | L 79–62 |
