Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Sunday, December 13
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
2:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
Kentucky
Blue Raiders finally home; face No. 8 Kentucky Sunday
12/11/2015 10:48:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Only third home date in eight games
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – It has been a tough road for the Middle Tennessee women's basketball team with five of the first seven games away from home to start the season.
The Blue Raiders (4-3) have held tough on the difficult stretch and will be rewarded with a season-high three-game homestand, beginning with a Sunday matinee featuring a showdown with No. 8-ranked Kentucky (8-0). Tipoff at Murphy Center is 2 p.m.
"It has been a long, tough road for our basketball team but they have held their own, and I am proud of them," Blue Raider veteran Head Coach Rick Insell said. "It's not just the fact we have been on the road so much because it is always hard to win on the road, but it's the type of teams we have played and the schedule we have played. Add to that the difficulty of the trips and you start to realize what a special group of young ladies we have at Middle Tennessee."
Despite tough conditions and living out of a suitcase for the better part of the first three weeks of the season, Middle Tennessee has won three straight – all on the road – and four of the last five overall.
The Blue Raiders played at Central Michigan, and then had one day of preparation before facing Ole Miss. They played a stretch of three games in four days and faced Austin Peay at the end of the grueling stretch with no preparation one day after returning from Reno, Nev., for a Thanksgiving Tournament.
Five of Middle Tennessee's first seven foes already have secured five or more wins in the first three weeks of the season, demonstrating the quality of basketball the Blue Raiders have faced under adverse conditions.
It was how the players responded during these difficult tests that showed Insell the make-up of his team.
"The way our young ladies responded to those challenges indicated they are focused, gaining maturity and that we are starting to get better overall leadership," Insell said. "It is the type of effort that makes you realize there is the potential of something special happening with this team."
Middle Tennessee's players will have a chance to accomplish something special when they hit the Murphy Center hardwood against nationally-ranked Kentucky Sunday. The Lady Wildcats have reeled off eight straight wins to start the season, and they are ranked eighth in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls.
"Kentucky is a very talented and athletic team," Insell said. "They get up-and-down the court so it will be another strong challenge all around, especially defensively. I like the way we are starting to execute and much of that has to do with putting in the extra time and focusing on the scout."
Several players are performing well for Middle Tennessee, including senior guard Brea Edwards. The hot-shooting guard is among the nation's leaders in several categories, including 3-point field goals per game (4.3), is 13th in scoring (21.9) and 13th in 3-point field goal percentage (.509).
Heralded junior Olivia Jones recently became the 29th member of the program's 1,000-point club, and was named the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year. Junior point guard Ty Petty is among the C-USA leaders in assists and assist-turnover ratio, and Middle Tennessee post presence continues to develop as evidenced by 32 points and 20 rebounds they provided in the win at Xavier.
To obtain tickets to Sunday's showdown against nationally-ranked Kentucky, contact the Middle Tennessee Ticket Office at 1-888-YES-MTSU.
The Blue Raiders (4-3) have held tough on the difficult stretch and will be rewarded with a season-high three-game homestand, beginning with a Sunday matinee featuring a showdown with No. 8-ranked Kentucky (8-0). Tipoff at Murphy Center is 2 p.m.
"It has been a long, tough road for our basketball team but they have held their own, and I am proud of them," Blue Raider veteran Head Coach Rick Insell said. "It's not just the fact we have been on the road so much because it is always hard to win on the road, but it's the type of teams we have played and the schedule we have played. Add to that the difficulty of the trips and you start to realize what a special group of young ladies we have at Middle Tennessee."
Despite tough conditions and living out of a suitcase for the better part of the first three weeks of the season, Middle Tennessee has won three straight – all on the road – and four of the last five overall.
The Blue Raiders played at Central Michigan, and then had one day of preparation before facing Ole Miss. They played a stretch of three games in four days and faced Austin Peay at the end of the grueling stretch with no preparation one day after returning from Reno, Nev., for a Thanksgiving Tournament.
Five of Middle Tennessee's first seven foes already have secured five or more wins in the first three weeks of the season, demonstrating the quality of basketball the Blue Raiders have faced under adverse conditions.
It was how the players responded during these difficult tests that showed Insell the make-up of his team.
"The way our young ladies responded to those challenges indicated they are focused, gaining maturity and that we are starting to get better overall leadership," Insell said. "It is the type of effort that makes you realize there is the potential of something special happening with this team."
Middle Tennessee's players will have a chance to accomplish something special when they hit the Murphy Center hardwood against nationally-ranked Kentucky Sunday. The Lady Wildcats have reeled off eight straight wins to start the season, and they are ranked eighth in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls.
"Kentucky is a very talented and athletic team," Insell said. "They get up-and-down the court so it will be another strong challenge all around, especially defensively. I like the way we are starting to execute and much of that has to do with putting in the extra time and focusing on the scout."
Several players are performing well for Middle Tennessee, including senior guard Brea Edwards. The hot-shooting guard is among the nation's leaders in several categories, including 3-point field goals per game (4.3), is 13th in scoring (21.9) and 13th in 3-point field goal percentage (.509).
Heralded junior Olivia Jones recently became the 29th member of the program's 1,000-point club, and was named the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year. Junior point guard Ty Petty is among the C-USA leaders in assists and assist-turnover ratio, and Middle Tennessee post presence continues to develop as evidenced by 32 points and 20 rebounds they provided in the win at Xavier.
To obtain tickets to Sunday's showdown against nationally-ranked Kentucky, contact the Middle Tennessee Ticket Office at 1-888-YES-MTSU.
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
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