Ball State Women's Basketball Falls to Miami (OH)

Comeback attempt falls short as Cardinals' MAC title hopes dwindle

Feb. 21, 2026 at 8:54pm

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The Ball State Women's Basketball team fell to Miami (OH) 68-64 in a key Mid-American Conference (MAC) matchup. The Cardinals trailed by just 4 points with 5:35 remaining but were unable to complete the comeback, snapping their 7-game winning streak. The loss has dampened Ball State's chances at the MAC regular season title and the top seed in the conference tournament.

Why it matters

This game had major implications on the MAC regular season title race, with Ball State and Miami (OH) holding the top two seeds in the conference. The loss makes it more difficult for Ball State to win the regular season title and earn the top seed in the upcoming MAC tournament.

The details

Ball State struggled to score throughout the game, trailing 60-56 with 5:35 left. Despite a late push, the Cardinals could not overcome 22 turnovers and Miami (OH)'s hot 3-point shooting, as the RedHawks made 12 threes compared to just 4 for Ball State. Head coach Brady Sallee credited Miami's defense and toughness plays as the difference in the game.

  • The game was played on February 21, 2026.
  • Ball State entered the game on a 7-game winning streak.

The players

Brady Sallee

The head coach of the Ball State Women's Basketball team.

Tessa Towers

The senior center for the Ball State Women's Basketball team, who scored 22 points in the game.

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What they’re saying

“I felt like the whole game it was hard to get a bucket. You've got to credit Miami; they didn't give us much space to play in.”

— Brady Sallee, Head Coach

“Hopefully we see them [Miami (OH)] again when it really matters.”

— Brady Sallee, Head Coach

What’s next

The Cardinals will host Akron on February 25th as they look to bounce back and keep their MAC title hopes alive.

The takeaway

This loss to the top-seeded Miami (OH) RedHawks has significantly hurt Ball State's chances at winning the MAC regular season title. The Cardinals will need to regroup quickly and take care of business in their remaining games if they hope to earn a top seed in the upcoming conference tournament.