Game 7: No. 1 Ball State (26-7, 16-2 MAC) vs. No. 2 Toledo (24-7, 13-5 MAC), 11 AM ET
LIVE on CBS Sports Network – Fran Charles (PxP), Melissa Heidrick (Analyst), Hailey Sutton (Sideline) | Live Stats
Ball State Cardinals
- The last time the Cardinals and the Rockets played in the Mid-American Conference Tournament was in the MAC Tourney semifinals in 2022 when Ball State defeated Toledo as the No. 5 seed by a score of 71-66. Ball State and Toledo have never faced one another in the title game.
- Saturday's contest marks the 96th time in program history the two schools have met with Toledo leading the all-time series record, 63-32. Ball State split the home-and-away series with the Rockets this season defeating them at home by a score of 77-63 on Jan. 20 and then fell to Toledo on the road on Feb. 19 by a 70-66 decision.
- This is the 25th anniversary of the Mid-American Conference Tournament being in Cleveland. It just so happens that the first year the conference tournament was held in Cleveland the Ball State men's basketball team claimed the title in 2000. The Ball State women's basketball team is looking to make history again 25 years later.
- The last time the Cardinals won the MAC Tournament was in 2009 when Ball State defeated Bowling Green by a score of 55-51. Ball State associate head coach Audrey Spencer was a guard on that winning team.
- This marks the 35th appearance in the Mid-American Conference Tournament in program history. Ball State has advanced to Cleveland 23 out of the past 25 seasons. The Cardinals are 26-33 all-time in MAC Tournament play and have advanced to the MAC Tournament finals on seven occasions. Ball State defeated Bowling Green in 2009 in the MAC Tournament Championship game. This is the 10th time in current head coach Brady Sallee's tenure the Cardinals have punched their ticket straight to the MAC Tournament in Cleveland.
- Ball State head coach Brady Sallee owns a 10-11 overall Mid-American Conference Tournament mark. The last time the Cardinals reached the final game was in 2022 when Ball State fell to Buffalo by a score of 79-74.
- Ball State has been the No. 1 seed in the tournament only four times; 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2025.
- A win over Toledo will mark Ball State 13th year head coach Brady Sallee's 400th career victory as a DI head coach.
Toledo Rockets
TOLEDO, Ohio – For the 16th time in program history, the Toledo women's basketball team will play for the MAC Tournament title, taking on Ball State on Saturday, March 15 at Rocket Arena. Tipoff is set for 11:00 a.m. on CBS Sports Network, with radio broadcasts on WCWA 1230 AM and The Varsity Network app.
The No. 2 seed Rockets (24-7) will attempt to secure their second tournament crown in three seasons while the No. 1 seed Cardinals (26-7) will play for their first title since 2009.
Toledo enters the contest winners of 12 of its last 14 games. Toledo defeated No. 7 seed Central Michigan, 76-58 in the quarterfinals, before defeating Buffalo, 56-49 in Friday's semifinals, coming back from halftime deficits in both games. Both Nan Garcia and Sammi Mikonowicz secured double-doubles against the Bulls, with Garcia scoring 13 points and grabbing a career-high with 15 rebounds.
The Cardinals advanced to the championship game with blowout victories over Western Michigan, 82-53 and Kent State, 70-53. Lachelle Austin scored 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting against the Golden Flashes.
Toledo leads the all-time series, 63-32 and is 6-1 all-time against Ball State in the MAC Tournament. The two teams split the regular-season series, with home victories in both matchups.
Rockets in the MAC Tournament
- Toledo looks to win its 10th MAC Tournament title and second in three years on Saturday.
- The Rockets will play for the 16th time in the MAC Tournament finals.
- UT is a top-two seed for the fourth-consecutive season after being the No. 1 seed each of the last three years.
- Toledo's senior class of Jessica Cook, Nan Garcia, Khera Goss, Sammi Mikonowicz and Hannah Noveroske holds a 7-2 record in MAC Tournament games.
