Ball State Falls to High Point, 78-71
Ball State lost its home opener to High Point after trailing by as many as 15 points in the second quarter.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Basketball
Ball State women's basketball lost to High Point 78-71 at home on November 7, 2026, after High Point led 22-15 at the end of the first quarter. High Point built a lead of as many as 15 points in the second quarter and led by nine at halftime.
Why it matters
The loss came with Ball State set to host ranked opponents No. 7 Louisville and No. 22 Illinois in the coming weeks. Coach Brady Sallee attributed the performance to the team being unprepared and to poor practices the day before the game.
Ball State went 17-for-31 on layups and 8-for-18 from the free-throw line over the game, while shooting 7-for-31 from three-point range. Tessa Towers led Ball State with 23 points, and High Point's Feldman scored a team-high 21.
The players
Brady Sallee
Brady Sallee is the head coach of the Ball State women's basketball program, who said the team was unprepared for the game.
The details
Ball State went 4-for-15 from three-point range in the first half and trailed by nine at halftime after Juliann Woodard scored 16 first-half points for High Point. Ball State adjusted with more aggressive perimeter defense in the second half, limiting High Point's three-point shooting.
Timeline
November 7, 2026: Ball State lost to High Point, 78-71.
November 12, 2026: Ball State hosts No. 7 Louisville.
November 18, 2026: Ball State hosts No. 22 Illinois.
Season Trajectory
The loss to a mid-major opponent comes early in the season and precedes back-to-back home games against ranked opponents Louisville and Illinois. How Ball State responds in those contests will shape its early-season standing within the Division I schedule.
Ball State's next two home games against Louisville and Illinois are scheduled for November 12 and November 18, 2026. Fans can track the team's early-season results against ranked opponents at Worthen Arena.
The takeaway
Early-season losses can reveal preparation gaps that a team must address quickly, especially with ranked opponents on the schedule. Ball State's home games against Louisville and Illinois will test whether the adjustments made in the second half carry forward.
What happens next
Ball State hosts No. 7 Louisville on November 12, 2026 and No. 22 Illinois on November 18, 2026.
Further reading
Find more local coverage in the Basketball section for Muncie.
