Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, January 7
El Paso, Texas
8:05 PM
Middle Tennessee
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UTEP
Blue Raiders face UTEP in key early-season showdown
1/6/2016 3:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MT's first game vs. Miners in El Paso
EL PASO, Texas – Middle Tennessee will be making its first trip to El Paso for a regular season C-USA game when it faces UTEP Thursday at 8:05 p.m.; however, this is not the Blue Raiders' first rodeo here.
One of Middle Tennessee's first highlights in C-USA occurred in El Paso when the Blue Raiders (7-5, 1-0) swept the league's postseason tournament in 2014 – capping a memorable first year in the conference.
Middle Tennessee faces another big challenge here when it faces a UTEP team that has been strong all season and is receiving votes in the AP Top 25 poll. The Miners (11-1, 2-0) started the season with eight straight wins before falling, 47-40, against Long Beach State in a December tournament.
"UTEP is an outstanding basketball team and they have had a great start in the non-conference portion of the schedule," Blue Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "Coach (Keitha) Adams does a great job and this is a very talented UTEP team. We have had good practices and we need to carry that into this game."
The Miners' balanced offense features four starters averaging double figures, led by Jenzel Nash's 13.0 per game. Starr Breedlove (11.7), Sparkle Taylor (10.3) and Cameasha Turner (10.3) also average double figures scoring.
Insell believes a tough non-conference schedule has prepared his team for key road games in league play, such as Thursday's battle. Middle Tennessee's strength of schedule is 43rd nationally, which is toughest non-conference schedule in C-USA this season.
"The reason we play the schedule we play is to prepare us for tough games in our conference," Insell said. "We have definitely played another tough schedule. I hope it pays off for us in what I expect to be a tough race in our conference this season."
Middle Tennessee is 2-0 against UTEP since joining C-USA with both games taking place in Murfreesboro. Olivia Jones set her career high of 31 points against UTEP last season. Jones appears to be returning to the form that resulted in her being named Preseason Player of the Year in the league. Jones has scored double figures in six of the last seven games and is averaging right at six rebounds per game.
Senior guard Brea Edwards continues to have a stellar season. Edwards is second nationally in 3-point field goals per game (3.6), and she is also among national leaders in 3-point field goal percentage, scoring, and free-throw percentage.
One of Middle Tennessee's first highlights in C-USA occurred in El Paso when the Blue Raiders (7-5, 1-0) swept the league's postseason tournament in 2014 – capping a memorable first year in the conference.
Middle Tennessee faces another big challenge here when it faces a UTEP team that has been strong all season and is receiving votes in the AP Top 25 poll. The Miners (11-1, 2-0) started the season with eight straight wins before falling, 47-40, against Long Beach State in a December tournament.
"UTEP is an outstanding basketball team and they have had a great start in the non-conference portion of the schedule," Blue Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "Coach (Keitha) Adams does a great job and this is a very talented UTEP team. We have had good practices and we need to carry that into this game."
The Miners' balanced offense features four starters averaging double figures, led by Jenzel Nash's 13.0 per game. Starr Breedlove (11.7), Sparkle Taylor (10.3) and Cameasha Turner (10.3) also average double figures scoring.
Insell believes a tough non-conference schedule has prepared his team for key road games in league play, such as Thursday's battle. Middle Tennessee's strength of schedule is 43rd nationally, which is toughest non-conference schedule in C-USA this season.
"The reason we play the schedule we play is to prepare us for tough games in our conference," Insell said. "We have definitely played another tough schedule. I hope it pays off for us in what I expect to be a tough race in our conference this season."
Middle Tennessee is 2-0 against UTEP since joining C-USA with both games taking place in Murfreesboro. Olivia Jones set her career high of 31 points against UTEP last season. Jones appears to be returning to the form that resulted in her being named Preseason Player of the Year in the league. Jones has scored double figures in six of the last seven games and is averaging right at six rebounds per game.
Senior guard Brea Edwards continues to have a stellar season. Edwards is second nationally in 3-point field goals per game (3.6), and she is also among national leaders in 3-point field goal percentage, scoring, and free-throw percentage.
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Players Mentioned
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