INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Ball State women’s basketball team used a dominant first quarter and a pair of double-doubles to remain undefeated, defeating IU Indy 81-72 in a non-conference matchup Sunday afternoon at Fairgrounds Coliseum.

The Cardinals, improving to 2-0, seized control early, outscoring the Jaguars 21-13 in the opening period and never relinquishing the lead. Ball State’s inside presence proved overwhelming, led by the formidable frontcourt duo of Bree Salenbien and Tessa Towers, who each recorded double-doubles.

Salenbien, a dynamic force on both ends of the floor, stuffed the stat sheet with 20 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and one block in 33 minutes of action. Her versatility anchored the Cardinals’ efforts throughout the contest. She was complemented perfectly by the 6-foot-5 Towers, a native of Batavia, Illinois, who efficiently tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds in just 22 minutes on the court. The pair’s performance in the paint established a decisive advantage for the visiting team.

Despite the early deficit, the home-standing Jaguars, who fell to 1-2, fought back in the second quarter. IU Indy outscored Ball State 18-13 in the period to cut the halftime deficit to just three points, 34-31. The comeback attempt was spearheaded by Hailey Smith of Fishers, Indiana, who led her team with 19 points and seven rebounds.

Any momentum the Jaguars carried into the locker room was quickly extinguished after halftime. The Cardinals came out with renewed vigor in the third quarter, delivering a decisive 23-17 scoring edge that rebuilt a comfortable nine-point lead heading into the final frame. Ball State’s offense continued to hum in the fourth quarter, with both teams scoring 24 points as the Cardinals closed out the victory.

Ball State’s backcourt provided crucial stability and secondary scoring. Karsyn Norman logged a team-high 38 minutes, contributing 13 points, five rebounds and four assists. Grace Kingery of North Ridgeville, Ohio, played the entire 40 minutes, adding 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Zuri Ransom, a 5-foot-10 guard from Evanston, Illinois, provided a spark off the bench with eight points, three rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 19 minutes.

For IU Indy, the offensive effort was a balanced one, but not enough to overcome Ball State’s firepower. Alongside Hailey Smith’s 19 points, Olivia Smith, also from Fishers, Indiana, scored 13 points and dished out three assists. Sydney Bolden of Loganville, Georgia, finished with 12 points and four assists, while Nevaeh Foster of South Bend, Indiana, added 11 points and seven rebounds.

The game unfolded largely as predicted by advanced metrics, as Interstat’s ELO system had given Ball State a 97 percent probability to win. The victory extends Ball State’s positive start to the season, following a narrow 68-66 road win at Arkansas State the previous Monday.

For IU Indy, the loss marks a second consecutive setback after a season-opening victory. The Jaguars fell 67-64 at Northwestern on Wednesday, following a 67-64 home win over Indiana State to begin their campaign.

An announced crowd of 512 was on hand at the historic Fairgrounds Coliseum to witness the in-state matchup.

Ball State now looks ahead to its home opener against Northern Kentucky on Wednesday. The Cardinals will then hit the road again to face Memphis on Saturday as part of a challenging early-season slate that also includes future games against Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Louisville.

IU Indy, under the direction of head coach, will seek to return to the win column when it hosts Bradley next Saturday. The Jaguars’ upcoming schedule features a mix of home games and road tests, including trips to Evansville, Marshall and Wisconsin later in December.

The statistical output from Salenbien and Towers provided an insurmountable foundation for Ball State, whose size and efficiency inside proved to be the defining factor in securing the nine-point road victory. The Cardinals’ ability to control the tempo from the opening tip and answer every Jaguar rally ensured they would leave Indianapolis with their perfect record intact.