Women's Basketball

Ball State Welcomes No. 7 Louisville to Muncie Thursday on CBSSN

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State women's basketball team will welcome its toughest test of the young season Thursday night, hosting No. 7 Louisville in a nationally televised matchup on CBS Sports Network. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at Worthen Arena.

The Cardinals (1-1) will look to defend their home floor against one of the nation's top programs as they host the seventh-ranked Cardinals (4-0) for the first time since 2013. Thursday's contest will mark Ball State's first matchup against a ranked opponent this season and the program's fifth consecutive year with a game featured on CBS Sports Network.

Ball State opened the 2026-27 campaign with an impressive 84-74 victory over Arkansas State in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge before dropping a competitive 78-71 decision to High Point on Nov. 7.

Junior guard Grace Kingery has provided an early offensive spark for the Cardinals, highlighted by a career-high 33-point performance in the season opener against Arkansas State. Kingery connected on four 3-pointers and went 9-for-11 from the free-throw line in the victory.

Freshman Lilli Barnes has also made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut season. Barnes recorded 18 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists against Arkansas State, narrowly missing a triple-double. Through the Cardinals' first two games, she is averaging 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per contest.

Graduate forward Tessa Towers has been a force in the frontcourt, recording a team-high 23 points and 11 rebounds against High Point. Towers, a preseason First Team All-MAC selection, will be an important presence on the glass against a talented Louisville frontcourt.

Head coach Brady Sallee enters his 15th season leading the Cardinals after guiding the program to back-to-back MAC regular-season championships. Ball State was selected as the preseason favorite to win both the MAC regular-season title and conference tournament championship in the 2026-27 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

Louisville enters Thursday's matchup ranked No. 7 nationally in both the AP Top 25 and USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. The Cardinals are off to a 4-0 start, most recently defeating Lindenwood, 71-35, on Tuesday night.

Head coach Jeff Walz's squad has been particularly impressive defensively, holding opponents to just 43.5 points per game through its first four contests. Louisville has also forced an average of 26.0 turnovers per game, presenting a significant challenge for Ball State's offense.

Junior guard Tajianna Roberts leads the Louisville attack, coming off a 20-point performance against Southern Indiana that included six 3-pointers. Fellow junior guard Imari Berry has also been a key contributor, while senior forward Amiya Joyner provides a strong presence in the paint.

Louisville advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 last season and returns four core starters from that squad.

Thursday will mark the ninth all-time meeting between the two programs, with Louisville holding a 7-1 advantage in the series. The Cardinals last met on Dec. 10, 2025, when Louisville earned a 93-62 victory in Louisville, Kentucky. Ball State's lone victory in the series came in Muncie, a 95-84 win on March 13, 2001.

GAME INFORMATION

  • Matchup: Ball State vs. No. 7 Louisville

  • Date: Thursday, Nov. 12

  • Time: 8 p.m. ET

  • Location: Worthen Arena | Muncie, Ind.

  • Television: CBS Sports Network

  • Radio: WMUN 92.5 FM / 1340 AM