Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Sunday, February 21
Birmingham, Ala.
12:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
18-7, 12-2
77
at
72
UAB (ASN)
13-12, 6-8
1
2
3
4
OT 1
F
Middle Tennessee
12
16
20
18
11
77
UAB
14
16
17
19
6
72
Team Stats
MT
UAB
FG%
.475
.382
3FG%
.375
.231
FT%
.833
.607
RB
29
48
TO
14
12
STL
5
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
29
FGM
11
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
Johnson powers Blue Raiders to ninth-straight win
2/21/2016 4:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MT survives scare, wins in OT
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alex Johnson missed her first five shots from the field against UAB Sunday afternoon but once the Middle Tennessee freshman phenom started scoring, she was difficult to stop.
Johnson's superlative play was crucial as the Blue Raiders came from behind to score an exhilarating 77-72 overtime win at Bartow Arena.
Johnson poured in a career high 29 points to lead Middle Tennessee (18-7, 12-2) to its ninth straight win and 11th victory in 12 games. It was also the Blue Raiders' sixth consecutive road win and enabled them to remain one game behind C-USA leader UTEP with four games remaining.
Johnson, who finished the game 11-for-21 from the field, knocked down 11 of her next 17 attempts after misfiring on the first five. Johnson was a dominant force in the paint and proved to be a workhorse, particularly in the second when she scored 21 of her 29.
Ty Petty continued her playmaking ways with 15 points and 11 assists, marking the fourth time this season the junior point guard has registered double-figures in assists. She is the only player in program history to accomplish the feat. Petty was also phenomenal down the stretch with several clutch baskets at the end of regulation and in overtime.
Sophomore Abbey Sissom rounded out the double-figure scorers for Middle Tennessee with 12 points. Brea Edwards finished with nine points and led the team with eight rebounds.
"We are fortunate to win the game against a UAB team that has been playing well and is tough to beat at home," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Insell said. "At times we were our worst enemy, but I'm proud of the way our young ladies battled and found a way to win."
The winning streak appeared in jeopardy when UAB (13-12, 6-8) took a 64-58 lead on Bianca Dufelmeier's layup with 4:27 remaining.
The Blue Raiders came up with a big stop on defense, and Edwards was fouled in the act of shooting a 3-pointer on the other end. Edwards, who is 18th nationally in free-throw percentage, calmly stepped to the line and converted all three shots to pull the Blue Raiders within 64-61.
After another defensive stop, Johnson powered a basket over two defenders to cut the deficit to 64-63 with 2:02 remaining. Following a missed UAB jumper, Petty hit a clutch 3-pointer from the corner. The 8-0 run provided the Blue Raiders with a 66-64 lead. Brittany Winborne, who finished with 23 rebounds, scored on a layup for UAB to tie the game with 29 seconds left. The Blue Raiders were unable to get off a shot on its final possession to set the stage for its first overtime game of the season.
"I thought we did some good things defensively in those last three minutes to give ourselves a chance, and then we had some players step up and hit some big shots and free throws down the stretch," Insell said. "It was different players getting it done and it was, once again, a good team win."
Johnson scored two free throws to give Middle Tennessee a 68-66 lead early in overtime, and Sissom followed with a key jumper to push the lead to 70-66 with 3:47 remaining. UAB battled back and tied the game, 72-72, on Chelsee Black's free throw, but Petty proved clutch once again when she buried a 3-pointer from the wing with 1:03 remaining. Following a UAB miss, Rebecca Reuter pulled a huge rebound and got the ball to Petty, who converted two free throws to essential seal the victory.
After an uncharacteristically poor shooting performance to start the game, Middle Tennessee improved as the game unfolded. The Blue Raiders, who shot 5-for-17 in the first quarter, finished shooting 48 percent (28-for-59) for the game. They shot 58 percent in the third quarter and 60 percent in the fourth quarter and overtime.
UAB controlled the boards and won the rebounding battle 48-29 but Middle Tennessee's shooting and clutch play down the stretch helped overcome the rebounding deficit.
The Blue Raiders will return to action at WKU Thursday in a game televised by Fox College Sports. Tipoff in Bowling Green, Ky., is 8 p.m.
Johnson's superlative play was crucial as the Blue Raiders came from behind to score an exhilarating 77-72 overtime win at Bartow Arena.
Johnson poured in a career high 29 points to lead Middle Tennessee (18-7, 12-2) to its ninth straight win and 11th victory in 12 games. It was also the Blue Raiders' sixth consecutive road win and enabled them to remain one game behind C-USA leader UTEP with four games remaining.
Johnson, who finished the game 11-for-21 from the field, knocked down 11 of her next 17 attempts after misfiring on the first five. Johnson was a dominant force in the paint and proved to be a workhorse, particularly in the second when she scored 21 of her 29.
Ty Petty continued her playmaking ways with 15 points and 11 assists, marking the fourth time this season the junior point guard has registered double-figures in assists. She is the only player in program history to accomplish the feat. Petty was also phenomenal down the stretch with several clutch baskets at the end of regulation and in overtime.
Sophomore Abbey Sissom rounded out the double-figure scorers for Middle Tennessee with 12 points. Brea Edwards finished with nine points and led the team with eight rebounds.
"We are fortunate to win the game against a UAB team that has been playing well and is tough to beat at home," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Insell said. "At times we were our worst enemy, but I'm proud of the way our young ladies battled and found a way to win."
The winning streak appeared in jeopardy when UAB (13-12, 6-8) took a 64-58 lead on Bianca Dufelmeier's layup with 4:27 remaining.
The Blue Raiders came up with a big stop on defense, and Edwards was fouled in the act of shooting a 3-pointer on the other end. Edwards, who is 18th nationally in free-throw percentage, calmly stepped to the line and converted all three shots to pull the Blue Raiders within 64-61.
After another defensive stop, Johnson powered a basket over two defenders to cut the deficit to 64-63 with 2:02 remaining. Following a missed UAB jumper, Petty hit a clutch 3-pointer from the corner. The 8-0 run provided the Blue Raiders with a 66-64 lead. Brittany Winborne, who finished with 23 rebounds, scored on a layup for UAB to tie the game with 29 seconds left. The Blue Raiders were unable to get off a shot on its final possession to set the stage for its first overtime game of the season.
"I thought we did some good things defensively in those last three minutes to give ourselves a chance, and then we had some players step up and hit some big shots and free throws down the stretch," Insell said. "It was different players getting it done and it was, once again, a good team win."
Johnson scored two free throws to give Middle Tennessee a 68-66 lead early in overtime, and Sissom followed with a key jumper to push the lead to 70-66 with 3:47 remaining. UAB battled back and tied the game, 72-72, on Chelsee Black's free throw, but Petty proved clutch once again when she buried a 3-pointer from the wing with 1:03 remaining. Following a UAB miss, Rebecca Reuter pulled a huge rebound and got the ball to Petty, who converted two free throws to essential seal the victory.
After an uncharacteristically poor shooting performance to start the game, Middle Tennessee improved as the game unfolded. The Blue Raiders, who shot 5-for-17 in the first quarter, finished shooting 48 percent (28-for-59) for the game. They shot 58 percent in the third quarter and 60 percent in the fourth quarter and overtime.
UAB controlled the boards and won the rebounding battle 48-29 but Middle Tennessee's shooting and clutch play down the stretch helped overcome the rebounding deficit.
The Blue Raiders will return to action at WKU Thursday in a game televised by Fox College Sports. Tipoff in Bowling Green, Ky., is 8 p.m.
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
Rick Insell Conference USA Hall of Fame Announcement
Wednesday, July 09
2025 Blue Raider Blitz Media Panel
Thursday, July 03
MTSU Women's Basketball Coach Rick Insell interview at 2025 Blue Raider Blitz
Monday, June 30
