MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State women’s basketball team will make its first appearance of the 2023-24 season Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. ET in Worthen Area when the Cardinals host Trine University in exhibition play. This is the first-ever meeting between the Cardinals and the Thunder. 

Ball State women’s basketball head coach Brady Sallee is beginning his 12th year at Ball State, returns 10 players from a record-setting squad that saw the Cardinals finish 26-9 with a 14-4 Mid-American Conference ledger.   

The Cardinals’ 26 wins a season ago tied the program record for most wins in a season. Ball State advanced to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament and the second round of the postseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) for the first time since 2018. The 20-win season also marked the sixth time in the last eight years Sallee reached the 20-win plateau.   

One of the league’s top point guards and postseason All-MAC honoree Ally Becki returns to the court for her junior season. Joining Becki are veteran’s seniors Estel Puiggros, Sydney Shafer and Annie Rauch along with juniors Madelyn Bischoff, Marie Kiefer and Alex Richard. Also coming back for the Cardinals are Ana Barreto, Sydney Bolden and Hana Mühl.  

The Cardinals welcome newcomer Nyla Hampton who transferred from Bowling Green this past summer. The three-time MAC Defensive Team recipient enters her first season with Ball State while nearing the 1,000-point plateau with 865 career points. She has also pulled down 131 career rebounds and dished 278 assists with 243 steals.

Other new faces joining Hampton are twins Hailey Smith and Olivia Smith, along with Ashlynn Brooke. All three true freshman played at Indiana high schools. 

Trine ended last season with a 23-7 overall mark and went 14-2 in MIAA (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association). Trine is a NCAA DIII school and reached the NCAA Tournament sectional semifinals last year. 

After Wednesday, the Cardinals will open their season at home against Tennessee Tech for their annual “Field Trip Day” on Monday, Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. ET in Worthen Arena. 

Ball State women’s basketball has also added more of a fan experience for its contests in Worthen Arena this season with the addition of court side seating. You can call 765-285-1474 or visit tinyurl.com/bdzchs5b to get your court side seats, regular season tickets and or season tickets.