CLEVELAND — Ball State finished with a 16-2 MAC record — 24-7 on the season — and are entering the MAC tournament as the No. 1 seed. Ball State has played all but three Mid-American Conference (MAC) teams twice. Miami (OH), Akron and Bowling Green were all one-time matchups for the Cardinals.

The last two seasons have ended in losses before winning the sought-after MAC Championship. Can this be the year head coach Brady Sallee and his team come out on top in Cleveland and make an NCAA tournament berth?

Here is a scouting report on each of the eight teams competing in the 25th annual MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

No. 2 Toledo

Toledo (22-7, 13-5) was last season’s MAC Tournament No. 1 team and is coming off a heartbreaking 77-74 overtime loss to Buffalo in the 2024 semi-finals. The Rockets were one of two MAC teams to top the Cardinals this season, beating them 66-70 on their home floor.

Both teams are annually near the top of the MAC and are consistently dominant programs. The rivalry roared again this season with Ball State and Toledo splitting the season series.

In game one at Worthen Arena, Ball State came out on top with a 77-63 victory. The Cardinals were led by Ally Becki who scored 26 points on 78% from the field (11-for-14).

The game was nationally televised on CBS Sports Network and the Cardinals stepped up on the national stage. Senior Lachelle Austin eclipsed 1,000 career points, Becki was one rebound away from a double-double and Alex Richard scored 12 points with eight rebounds.

It was a defensive battle throughout the contest. Ball State found itself down 10-2 at the first timeout, but used a 16-4 run to closeout the quarter and take the lead for the remainder of the game. Both teams played strong games, but Ball State came out on top behind 43% from deep and 90% shooting from the charity stripe.

Toledo got the better of Ball State in the second matchup on its home court. The Rockets handed the Cardinals their first loss of MAC play by a slim margin. Ball State fell 66-70 in a game the Cardinals led for a good amount of time.

Richard had a career night with 33 points, but it was not enough. Austin had 10 and senior Madelyn Bischoff also had 10 points. In one of her lowest scoring totals on the season, Becki had just seven points.

Toledo and Ball State come from opposite sides of the bracket, being the top two teams. A potential championship game would be an incredible matchup. Toledo has one of the best players in the MAC in guard Sammi Mikonwicz. Mikonwicz vs. Becki in the championship game would be a marquee battle of two of the most talented players in the conference.

If Ball State wants to beat Toledo for a second time, it needs to limit turnovers, control the paint, and be able to knock down shots from deep. The Cardinals do not need to shoot 20+ three-pointers, but knocking down the 10 they do take will be important. Focusing on the inside-out style they have been successful with can lead them to a win over Toledo.

No. 3 Buffalo

Buffalo (24-6) finished the MAC slate 13-5, with two losses to Ball State. The first came on the Bulls’ home court Jan. 11. The Cardinals came into Alumni Arena after flight delays and travel problems and beat Buffalo 78-56.

In that contest, graduate student Elise Stuck had one of her best games donning the red and white. Stuck finished with a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds — a career high. It was a full team effort with senior Alex Richard scoring 17 points and senior Maliyah Johnson putting up double-double efforts with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Ally Becki had 11 points on 3-for-4 shooting from deep.

In that win, Ball State out-rebounded Buffalo 47-26. In the majority of the Cardinals’ wins, the rebounding category and turnover battle often sway in favor of Ball State. The rebounds did, but Ball State turned the ball over 16 times to Buffalo’s 14. The Bulls are the best team in the conference in turnover margin, and top-40 in the nation.

In the second installment of Ball State vs. Buffalo, the offense was slow out of the gates. The game was tied at nine each with three minutes to go in the opening frame. Ball State had made just three field goals in the first quarter, and Buffalo led 16-11 after one.

Buffalo led 27-25 at the halftime break. That lead quickly diminished though, as the Cardinals used a major third quarter to take a lead and win the contest. Ball State outscored Buffalo 27-13 in the third quarter behind 53.2 percent shooting from the field.

Ball State built a 19-point buffer in the fourth, highlighted by a three-ball from Ball State big Marie Kiefer. Alex Richard led with 20 points and Kiefer had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the double-double.

In yet another game, Ball State’s bigs proved to be the difference as its size dominated. The length of Kiefer and the strength of Richard in the paint controls the game against smaller teams. Buffalo is one of those smaller teams, and plays at a quick pace and it likes to get out in transition.

If a Buffalo vs. Ball State rematch came up in Cleveland, expect the Cardinals to try to slow down the tempo and get back on defense quick after buckets. In the matchup in Worthen, just about every Ball State coach was yelling for the players to get back on defense after scoring. Buffalo plays fast and small, if Ball State plays into its size like Sallee had them March 5, the Cardinals can come out on top of the Bulls for a third time.

No. 4 Kent State

Kent State (20-11, 12-6) is the reigning MAC Tournament Champions and were the second team to top the Cardinals this season in MAC play. The Golden Flashes caught the Cardinals during a skid where they had lost three of four games, beating them 54-60.

The loss to Kent State came just three days after the loss to Toledo in a home contest for Ball State. The first installation was an 11-point victory in favor of Ball State Jan. 15. In that game, Ball State committed just seven turnovers while forcing 17 from Kent State.

With those turnovers, Ball State capitalized scoring 18 points off them. Freshman Grace Kingery knocked down two free throws to cap off the first half, taking a 33-31 Ball State lead into the break. Ball State outscored Kent State 18-7 in the quarter to take a 13-point lead into the final frame.

Kent State made it a game, going on a 12-2 run to start the fourth quarter, cutting the Cardinals’ lead to two. Ball State used a 5-0 run to close out the game and earn its fifth straight MAC win at the time.

In game two, Kent State led at the end of the opening frame, 20-16, and still trailed at the halftime break, 35-29. Like most losses, Ball State struggled on the boards against Kent State, out-rebounding them 42-29. Ball State got it as close as eight points, but the Golden Flashes prevailed, taking back a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Kent State held and took a six-point win back home with them from Muncie. If Ball State wants to avenge that home loss for a second win over Kent State this season, the Cardinals have to take care of the ball the way they did in the win. Limiting turnovers, and forcing their opponents into coughing it up, has been a common denominator in Ball State’s wins over talented teams.

There is a chance for a second-round rematch for the two teams if they can overcome their opening round games. Kent State has had Ball State’s number in Cleveland before. Ball State’s season ended at the hands of the Golden Flashes last spring in the MAC semi-finals where Kent State won 65-50 before beating Buffalo in the championship.

No. 5 Miami (OH)

Miami (19-10, 11-7) was a team the Cardinals played just once this season. That game happened to be the MAC opener Jan. 1, and Ball State came out on top 68-55 in a shaky game for both sides.

Being the opening game of the conference slate, both teams came out with shaky starts. The Cardinals came out with a 13-point road victory to get MACtion rolling while Ally Becki led the way with 22 points. Breakout freshman Grace Kingery had 18 points and Elise Stuck had 10 rebounds.

Miami is another lineup that struggles in the size category, but averages 34 rebounds a game and gives up the same number. If the Redhawks were to beat Kent State in the opening round, the Cardinals would find themselves playing Miami in the semi-finals with a shot at the MAC title game.

In the contest Jan. 1, Ball State scored 31 points off 24 turnovers by the Redhawks. Ball State won the rebounding battle 34-29 as well, and if those stats sway towards the Cardinals in a potential semi-final game, Ball State will find itself heading to the MAC title game.

No. 6 Bowling Green

Bowling Green (18-12, 11-7) and Ball State played just once this season with the Cardinals coming out on top 71-51. At the time, Ball State was on a 13-game win streak and won its 11th-straight MAC game in the win over the Falcons.

In the contest, Madelyn Bischoff had 20 points on 6-for-10 shooting from deep. Becki and Richard both had 17 points in the 20-point victory. Becki also had 10 assists for the double-double.

A rematch is unlikely, as Bowling Green would have to beat Buffalo in its opener and Toledo or Central Michigan in its semi-final. Not to mention the Cardinals having to overcome a challenge itself with Kent State or Miami.

Bowling Green is led by Amy Velasco who is averaging 16.1 points per game in MAC play, good for sixth in the conference.

No. 7 Central Michigan

Central Michigan (14-16, 9-9) and Ball State played Jan. 4 at Worthen Arena in a game that saw the Cardinals come out on top 72-61.

Central Michigan turned the ball over 31 times to Ball State’s 18 while the Cardinals shot 40.4 percent from the field. Ball State led by 19 at one point in the third quarter and remained ahead for the entire contest.

In game two, Central Michigan forced overtime against a struggling Ball State team at the time. The Cardinals had just lost two straight MAC games and needed an extra frame to beat the Chippewas 60-58. Senior Lachelle Austin led the way in that contest with 17 points while Kiefer had 10 to aid the efforts.

If a Central Michigan rematch came for the Cardinals, they would need to keep it simple and stick to who they are on the floor. It would be important to not overlook a contest against the Chippewas, as a game against hungry lower seeds can be dangerous for a top seeded team.

Central Michigan is led by leading scorer Madi Morson who is averaging 16.4 points per game, which is fifth in the conference.

No. 8 Western Michigan

Ball State will open the MAC Tournament against the bottom seed Broncos. Western Michigan (12-17, 8-10) is a team that competed against Ball State in its home contest. The Broncos fought on their Senior Day home contest, but the Cardinals left Kalamazoo with a 55-45 victory.

Western Michigan battled throughout the contest behind 19 points from Hannah Spitzley and a strong defensive performance. Ball State led just 8-4 after the opening frame. Richard led all scorers with 29 points and controlled the paint with 32 points to Western Michigan’s 20.

In the home contest, Ball State won again by 10 points, 61-51. Richard again had a stellar performance with 23 points. 19 of those came in the second half of play, propelling the Cardinals to victory. The Cardinals did lose the rebound battle, by just three boards, which could be a sign of worry ahead of the opening game March 12.

Ball State was able to dominate the turnover margin at +11, an important stat to pay attention to come tournament time. The Cardinals could make a huge statement if they have a dominating opening game win over the Broncos.

Ball State’s keys to success

For the Cardinals, being successful in the tournament and beyond will come back to rebounding and turnovers. When Ball State uses its size and depth of bigs, they control the glass, get a lot of boards, and score the majority of their points in the paint.

Playing through the bigs allows players like Ally Becki, Madelyn Bischoff and Lachelle Austin to get open on the perimeter. Bischoff has been a solid shooter from deep and Becki is going to hit tough shots along with Austin.

The true difference-maker will be the play of Becki. Being a senior, and going through four MAC tournaments as a favorite, she knows what it takes to win in Cleveland. Although she has never done it, winning the MAC would put a cherry on top of the career she has had in Muncie.

She has struggled at times this season in the big games, just eight points against Ohio State, seven against North Carolina, seven at Toledo and four against Buffalo. When Becki struggles offensively, she can control the tides of the team.

She has been consistent dishing out the ball, but if her assist numbers are down, along with points, there is a chance the Cardinals struggle. The added presence of Richard over the MAC slate has been important for Ball State as well and her consistency has not wavered. The two of them, along with the defense and shooting from Lachelle Austin, are three things to look out for in Cleveland this week.

Contact Logan Connor via email at logan.connor@bsu.edu or via X @_loganconnor

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