Blue Raiders celebrate career of Ty Petty

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee senior point guard Ty Petty doesn't remember the exact moment when she decided she wanted to be a Blue Raider. Really, she always kind of knew growing up that she would play for her hometown school.

"I've always felt the love here," she said. "I was close with the former players, and I wanted to be in that atmosphere. The love the girls had for each other and the passion they showed on the court, I wanted to be in that."

Now, as her MT career is nearing a close, she's prepping for a moment that has caused her some mixed feelings.

She knows her senior day on Sunday against UAB at 4 p.m., barring a home game in a postseason tournament, will be the last time she ever puts on the blue-and-white Middle Tennessee uniform at the Murphy Center. It will also be a day to celebrate a brilliant four-year career in which she has experienced moments she will never forget.

But, there's still a game to play. And in true Ty Petty fashion, that's what she's focused on.

"It's very emotional knowing it's my last time playing in this arena with my friends and my family, but it's just another conference game to me," she said. "I know it's my last game to be able to play in front of my family, my friends and these fans, but first and foremost it's just another game."

If you want to know just how much Petty has meant to the women's basketball program at Middle Tennessee, all you have to do is ask her head coach.

"I felt like when we recruited her she would do exactly what she's doing," MT head coach Rick Insell said. "She's just a phenomenal young lady. She's one of those type of players that you don't get often, and we've been very fortunate here that we've been able to enjoy her career."

Insell recruited Petty when she was starring for Riverdale, who was named national champion by ESPN and MaxPreps in her senior season after a 35-0 record. He remembers Petty as a young girl who had an incredible passion for the game and who would never want to miss any of the action.

"I can remember her first day of practice she came up with a hamstring or something, and I told her to go down to the training room," Insell said. "Next thing I know, she's running back onto the court saying, 'I'm not hurt, I'm not hurt.'"

Under Insell's guidance, Petty transformed from the passionate young girl at Riverdale to one of Middle Tennessee's all-time great players.

"Just to know the person that I came in as and the person that I'm leaving as, I have to thank Coach Insell for that growth and for helping me become a better player and a person," she said. "I've learned so many life lessons from that man on and off the court that I'll take with me forever. I know my mom thanks him even more than I thank him."

She has accrued the second-most assists in school history (497) and became the 30^th player in the MT 1,000-point club after scoring 29 against UAB on New Year's Day. She's currently 18^th on the all-time scoring list (1,287), and if she can rack up three more assists and six more steals, she will become the only Blue Raider ever with 1,200 points, 300 rebounds, 500 assists and 180 steals.

Petty was also named the 2016 Conference USA Tournament MVP and was a 2016 second-team all-conference member, and this season was voted to the preseason all-conference team.

Since Petty stepped onto campus, the Blue Raiders have a .740 winning percentage (94-33) and C-USA-best 56-11 record in league play. They've taken home the conference championship two times and currently are in a fight for a third, and in 2014-15 they advanced all the way to the WNIT quarterfinals.

"That's what this program is all about, and that's why I came here," she said. "Everybody sees our schedule, and it is nowhere near easy. But to see that number, it's nowhere surprising to me. That's what this program is all about."

Through all of that success, Petty has obtained countless memories she will cherish forever. She also had the opportunity to get closer to a family who experienced the harshest form of tragedy.

Before Petty stepped onto the court at MT, former player Tina Stewart was tragically killed during the 2011 season. To honor her memory, Petty decided to not wear her favorite no. 3, but instead switch to 20, the number Stewart wore while she was a Blue Raider.

After receiving Stewart's family's blessing, Petty donned the 20 jersey and has worn it since. When her career comes to a close, no one will ever again put on no. 20 at Middle Tennessee.

"I didn't wear 20 for myself, I wore 20 for a family who lost their daughter," she said. "For me to be able to even be allowed by her family to wear her jersey and keep her legacy alive, that helped me as a person. That has taught me so much … and they've turned into a family for me. It really means a lot."

Sunday's game will be another one of the moments Petty will likely remember for the rest of her life.

It will be a time for her to thank everyone who helped her along her path to becoming an all-time Middle Tennessee great student-athlete and to remember those who have impacted her life both on and off the court.

It will also be a chance for fans to let her know all of the love and passion she has given them over the last four years is reciprocated.
And while she may never suit up in the Murphy Center to take on the likes of WKU, LA Tech, Southern Miss and other C-USA teams again, Petty will always be a Blue Raider.

"As a Lady Raider you have to have pride, you have to have courage," she said. "Just to know this is my alma mater means a lot, because this is family. It means more than I can explain.

"I can't thank the fans enough. I may not know names, but I know their faces. They've shown so much love and loyalty, and I really can't thank them enough. That's family; that's the definition of being True Blue."

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Ty Petty

Middle Tennesee State University Athletics