Ball State Women’s Basketball Roster: The Who’s Who of the Team

Looking at the Ball State Women’s basketball roster for the upcoming season? Here’s a quick who’s who of the team, so you can get to know the players!

Introduction

The Ball State Women’s basketball team is made up of some of the most talented and hardworking athletes in the country. Although they may not be the biggest or strongest team, they play with heart and determination. Here is a look at the roster for the 2019-2020 Season

Makayla Feldstein:
Makayla is a 5’11” guard/forward from Indianapolis, Indiana. She is a versatile player who can shoot threes, drive to the basket, and defend multiple positions. Makayla was named All-State her senior year of High School and was a four-year starter for her high school team. She plans to major in Kinesiology and Health Promotion.

Amber Harris:
Amber is a 5’9″ guard from Plymouth, Indiana. She is an excellent shooter and very fast on her feet. Amber was named All-State her senior year of high school and led her team to a conference championship She plans to major in Elementary Education.

Olivia Lane:
Olivia is a 6’1″ forward/center from Carmel, Indiana. She is a strong post player who can score inside and out. Olivia was named All-Conference her senior year of high school and led her team to a Conference Championship She plans to major in Business Administration.

Jenna Stauffer:
Jenna is a 5’8″ guard from Fishers, Indiana. She is an excellent shooter with great Court Vision Jenna was named Honorable Mention All-State her senior year of high school and led her team to a conference championship. She plans to major in Biology.

The Roster

The Ball State women’s Basketball team is set to have another successful season Head Coach Tricia Cullop has put together a strong roster that includes a mix of experienced veterans and talented newcomers. Here’s a look at the who’s who of the team:

Guards

Senior guard Tayler Persons is the floor general for the Cardinals. He’s a gifted scorer and playmaker who is also one of the best three-point shooters in the country. He averaged 16.8 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game last season and was named First Team All-Mid-American Conference.

Junior guard Kyle Mingus is a sharpshooter who provides a spark off the bench. He shot 42 percent from beyond the arc last season and averaged 7.1 points per game

Sophomore guard Ishmael El-Amin is one of the most promising young players on the team. He’s an excellent shooter with a High Basketball IQ. El-Amin averaged 4.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game last season as a freshman.

Forwards

Junior forward Tahjai Teague is one of the best all-around players on the team. He’s a tenacious rebounder and defender who can also score in a variety of ways around the basket. Teague averaged 12.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game last season and was named Second Team All-MAC.

Senior forward Brachen Hazen is another versatile player who does a little bit of everything for the Cardinals. He averaged 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal per game last season while shooting nearly 40 percent from three-point range

Sophomore forward Luke Bumbalough comes off the bench to provide energy and toughness on both ends of the court. He chipped in 2 points and 1 rebound per game as a freshman last season but figures to see his role increase this year

The Coaches

Ball State Women’s Basketball is led by head coach Brady Sallee and assistant coaches Jodiestampfel and Lindsey Hunter-Gilchrist. Together, this dynamic trio has over 60 years of collegiate coaching experience and has helped lead the Cardinals to some of their most successful seasons in program history.

Coach Sallee is entering his sixth season at the helm of the Cardinals and has amassed an impressive 149-77 record during his tenure. Under his guidance, the Cardinals have won 20 or more games in four of the last five seasons and have made three appearances in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). In 2018-19, Ball State finished the season with a 23-10 overall record and earned a berth in the WNIT for the second consecutive year.

Assistant coach Jodi Ewart Stampfel is in her fifth season with Ball State women’s basketball and her ninth season as a collegiate coach. She has helped Coach Sallee lead the Cardinals to four 20-win seasons, three WNIT appearances, and an NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship appearance in 2015-16. Prior to her arrival at Ball State Stampfel served as an Assistant Coach at IUPUI for one season (2010-11) and was a graduate assistant coach at Bowling Green State University for two seasons (2008-10).

Assistant Coach Lindsey Hunter-Gilchrist is in her third season with Ball State women’s basketball and her seventh season as a collegiate coach. She has helped the Cardinals to back-to-back 20-win seasons and consecutive WNIT appearances. Prior to joining the Ball State staff, Hunter-Gilchrist was an assistant coach at George Mason University for two seasons (2014-16) and also served as an assistant coach at her alma mater, James Madison University, for one season (2013-14).

The Schedule

The 2020-21 Ball State women’s Basketball season will be the team’s 93rd season, and their first as full members of the Mid-American Conference. The Cardinals, led by seventh-year Head Coach Nate Willis, will play their home games at Worthen Arena in Muncie, Indiana as members of theMAC West Division.

The schedule is as follows:

Nov. 25 – vs. IUPUI
Nov. 27 – at Purdue Fort Wayne
Dec. 2 – vs. Detroit Mercy
Dec. 5 – at Toledo
Dec. 8 – vs Central Michigan

The Fans

Ball State Women’s Basketball is one of the most successful NCAA Division I women’s programs in the country. They have won 11 conference championships and have made it to the NCAA tournament 13 times. And their fans are some of the most passionate and loyal in the country.

So, who are these fans?

They are students, alumni, parents, and community members who all share a love for the Cardinals. They bleed red and white and they are always there to support their team, no matter what.

They are the lifeblood of the program and they make Ball State Women’s Basketball what it is today.

The Media

The following is a list of the women’s basketball team’s media.

-Dana Brooks: WLBC Radio Play-by-Play Broadcaster
-Randy Lange: WCRD Radio Color Analyst
-Whitney Robbins: WLBC Radio sideline reporter

The Alumni

Since Ball State’s first women’s basketball team took the court in 1974, the program has produced numerous All-Americans, Olympians, and professional players. Here is a look at some of the program’s most notable alumni.

All-Americans

• Jenny Bitzer (1991): Two-time Kodak All-American and three-time Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. Bitzer is Ball State’s All-time leading scorer with 2,703 points. She played professionally in Europe for several years after graduation.

• Anita Becker (1992): A two-time Kodak All-American and four-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Becker is Ball State’s all-time leader in blocked shots with 371. She played professionally in Europe for several years after graduation.

• Katie Gearlds (2001): A two-time Kodak All-American and three-time MAC Player of the Year, Gearlds is Ball State’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made with 274. She played for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever from 2002 to 2006.

Olympians

• Cheryl Miller (1984): A member of the 1984 U.S Olympic team that won a gold medal in Los Angeles Miller was one of the most decorated players in college basketball history. She was a three-time Kodak All American and four-time Smith College Player of the Year at USC.

Professional Players

• Bonnnie Slatton (1987): A member of Ball State’s 1987 NCAA Final Four team, Slatton played Professional Basketball for over 20 years, including stints with several NBA teams

• Tracy FC Nuich (1989): A member of Ball State’s 1989 NCAA Sweet Sixteen team, Nuich played professional basketball overseas for many years before returning to the United States to play for the WNBA’s Detroit Shock from 2000 to 2002.

The Boosters

The Ball State Women’s Basketball team is boosted by an eclectic and hardworking group of young women. This year’s roster is filled with talented players who have the potential to take the team far in the season. Here is a look at the who’s who of the team.

-Senior guard Bridgette Rettstatt is the team captain and leading scorer. She is a versatile player who can shoot from long range or drive to the basket. Rettstatt is also a good defender and rebounder.

-Junior forward Lauren Anderson is the team’s best three-point shooter. She is a dangerous scorer from anywhere on the court. Anderson is also a good rebounder and defender.

-Sophomore guard Kara Pileggi is one of the team’s best shooters. She has unlimited range and can knock down threes with ease. Pileggi is also a good passer and ball-handler.

-Freshman forward Sydney Freeman is a versatile player who can score inside or out. She is an excellent rebounder and defender, and she has the potential to be a great player in college basketball

The Arena

For the 18-19 season Ball State will play its home games at Worthen Arena. The multipurpose arena, which has a capacity of 11,500, is located on the north side of campus. It is also the home of the men’s basketball team as well as the women’s volleyball and gymnastics teams. Worthen Arena opened in 1992 and is named after former Ball State president John Worthen.

The Future

The future of the Ball State women’s basketball team is very bright. The team is young and talented, with a lot of potential. The team has a lot of depth, and there are a lot of players who can contribute. The team has a good mix of veterans and young players and they have a bright future ahead of them.