Ball State has been on fire this season. The Cardinals are 18-2 on the year, undefeated in Mid-American Conference play, and just set a new program record with their 12th straight victory.
"To have success like this, you gotta be connected, and they've worked really hard all year long to become that kind of a team," said Brady Sallee, Ball State head coach.
Sallee, as well as his players, emphasized the role defense has played in the team's success, not just relying on offensive firepower. Ball State is led by two local juniors, Brownsburg's Ally Becki and Roncalli's Madelyn Bischoff.
Becki and Bischoff are two of the MAC's top ten scorers, a true dynamic duo from day one. They initially connected over their Indianapolis-area roots and never looked back. Now, they spend extra time together in the gym before and after practice working on drills to keep their connection sharp.
"I know if I'm open, she's always going to find me," said Bischoff. "Same for her. If I drive, I'm looking for her. Being best friends really adds to our game."
The Cardinals' only two losses came against ranked opponents, #14 Notre Dame and #17 UConn. That Power 5 experience proved to be a huge catalyst for the team's win streak.
"You always want to learn while you're winning, but I think it's the one true way to learn who you really have," said Sallee. "You want to challenge them, bring them into tough environments."
Those Power 5 contests provide a different style of play and crowd than conference play. Sallee and his team agree all of that will help them achieve their ultimate goal, getting back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009.
"We know what we need to do against teams like that," said Becki. "We just have to keep playing our game."
First, Ball State looks to extend its win streak to lucky number 13 with a victory over Kent State on Wednesday night in Worthen Arena.