Blue Raiders braced for key two-game league homestand

Saturday, January 9

San Antonio, Texas

2:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

-86, 21 CUSA

UTSA

-59, 13 CUSA

Middle Tennessee

UTSA

1/13/2016 5:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MT plays host to Charlotte Thursday

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee returns home for a key C-USA swing against Charlotte and Old Dominion looking to keep itself near the top of the league standings in the early going.

Both Charlotte and Old Dominion were picked to finish in the top half of the conference, while Middle Tennessee was picked to win the league in a vote of coaches for the preseason poll, so this weekend's games should provide championship-caliber basketball.

Middle Tennessee (8-6, 2-1) will play host to Charlotte (9-5, 2-1) Thursday at Murphy Center at 6:30 p.m., and the Blue Raiders will conclude the two-game homestand against Old Dominion Saturday at 6 p.m.

"All three of these teams were picked in the top half of the conference in the preseason so fans should expect to see quality basketball," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Insell said. "It's still real early in the conference race but these games go a long way in teams trying to jockey for position. Charlotte is very good, and I know they will provide a challenge Thursday. Cara (Consuegra) does a great job, and she has her team playing well."

Charlotte is coming off a home sweep of Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech and is riding high coming into Murfreesboro. The 49ers have a balanced attack with four players averaging double figures, led by Lefty Webster's 14 points per game.

Middle Tennessee salvaged a split on its most recent C-USA road swing, falling at UTEP but bouncing back with a character-building road win at UTSA Saturday. Middle Tennessee is led by senior guard Brea Edwards, who is among national leaders in five categories.

Edwards is third in NCAA Division I in 3-piont field goals per game (3.4), eighth in 3-point field goals made (47), 15^th in 3-point field goal percentage (.456) and 39^th in both scoring (19.0) and free-throw percentage (.866).

Junior guard Ty Petty has also been a catalyst. Petty is second in C-USA with 4.6 assists per game and is the team's second-leading scorer with 10 points per game. Petty has dished out six or more assists in six games. She scored a season-high 20 points, had six assists, one turnover and was 6-for-6 at the free-throw line at UTSA.

Freshman post Alex Johnson continues to flourish. Johnson was named C-USA Freshman of the Week for the third time this week and has become a go-to player for the Blue Raiders. Another shining star is Gabby Lyon, who is shooting 73 percent in the last five games, while also becoming more of a presence on the boards. She has earned starts in three straight games.