Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, January 18
Murfreesboro, TN
6:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
11-7, 3-2
56
vs
48
North Texas
11-6, 2-3
1
2
3
4
F
North Texas
6
18
9
15
48
Middle Tennessee
10
10
17
19
56
Team Stats
NT
MT
FG%
.340
.439
3FG%
.267
.478
FT%
.714
.600
RB
29
32
TO
13
19
STL
5
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
7
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballDefensive dandy: Lady Raiders win third straight
1/18/2018 9:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Turn back North Texas, 56-48
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Two of the nation's best defensive teams squared off Thursday night at the Murphy Center, as Middle Tennessee welcomed North Texas in a Conference USA bout.
It was clear defense would reign with North Texas' scoring defense ranked third in the nation and MT's 12th. But, the Lady Raiders (11-7, 3-2) found just enough offense when it mattered most to get by the Mean Green (11-6, 2-3), 56-48.
"It was an ugly game, and I'm happy with the win," MT Head Coach Rick Insell said. "They've got a very good basketball team ... but we gave good effort.
"It was a good team win."
After the first half, the score stood at 24-20 in favor of North Texas as the defenses put clamps down. Both teams combined for just 14-of-47 shooting (29.7 percent) and 16 turnovers through the first two quarters.
Needless to say, both teams were desperate for an injection of offense as they entered the locker room. Luckily for Middle Tennessee, its offensive explosion finally came in the third quarter.
The Lady Raiders came out of the halftime break looking like a new team offensively, especially from distance, thanks to a flaw in the suffocating Mean Green defensive game plan.
Middle Tennessee made a concerted effort to get the ball into the post whenever it could, where post players Alex Johnson, Rebecca Reuter and Gabby Lyon usually found a North Texas double or even triple team. That meant someone was consistently open, and it was usually on the 3-point line on the weak side.
The blue-clad ladies made good on their open looks from distance in the second half, hitting 7-of-8 and 11-of-16 shots overall as they turned a four-point deficit to begin the third quarter into a 37-33 lead as it ended.
In total, 11 of MT's 18 made field goals in the game came from behind the 3-point arc, led by a 3-for-5 effort from freshman Anna Jones. She followed up a career-high 30 points against UTEP with 15 to lead the way for Middle Tennessee and has now scored in double figures in three straight contests.
"We know that every team is going to be double- and triple-teaming Alex and our other posts, so that just opens up threes for us guards," Jones said. "We just have to knock down the shots and give them some relief."
With the slim, four-point lead entering the final quarter, the Lady Raiders turned to their defense to hold on for the win.
It was the eighth time this season and third game in a row they've held an opponent under 50 points, allowing the Mean Green to shoot just 34 percent (17-of-50) from the floor.
"We knew coming into the game that they were going to be a great defensive team, and we know that we're a good defensive team, so we knew we were going to have to grind it out," Johnson said. "When we went into our 2-3, I felt like we were able to defend them very well."
Johnson, the Preseason C-USA Player of the Year, was in her first action since MT took on Louisville on Dec. 9. The junior, who was sidelined with a foot injury, finished with eight points, three rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes played.
"I feel good," she said. "I feel like my foot is back – it isn't 100 percent, but it's to where I can move around at a comfortable rate. To me, it's all about the team win at this point."
Junior Jess Louro finished with 14 points, including a 4-of-8 night from 3-point distance, to go with six rebounds.
Middle Tennessee is now 20-4 all-time against North Texas and has won 15 in a row and 19 of the last 20 in the series.
The Lady Raiders will stay at home for a Saturday matchup with Southern Miss. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN3.
It was clear defense would reign with North Texas' scoring defense ranked third in the nation and MT's 12th. But, the Lady Raiders (11-7, 3-2) found just enough offense when it mattered most to get by the Mean Green (11-6, 2-3), 56-48.
"It was an ugly game, and I'm happy with the win," MT Head Coach Rick Insell said. "They've got a very good basketball team ... but we gave good effort.
"It was a good team win."
After the first half, the score stood at 24-20 in favor of North Texas as the defenses put clamps down. Both teams combined for just 14-of-47 shooting (29.7 percent) and 16 turnovers through the first two quarters.
Needless to say, both teams were desperate for an injection of offense as they entered the locker room. Luckily for Middle Tennessee, its offensive explosion finally came in the third quarter.
The Lady Raiders came out of the halftime break looking like a new team offensively, especially from distance, thanks to a flaw in the suffocating Mean Green defensive game plan.
Middle Tennessee made a concerted effort to get the ball into the post whenever it could, where post players Alex Johnson, Rebecca Reuter and Gabby Lyon usually found a North Texas double or even triple team. That meant someone was consistently open, and it was usually on the 3-point line on the weak side.
The blue-clad ladies made good on their open looks from distance in the second half, hitting 7-of-8 and 11-of-16 shots overall as they turned a four-point deficit to begin the third quarter into a 37-33 lead as it ended.
In total, 11 of MT's 18 made field goals in the game came from behind the 3-point arc, led by a 3-for-5 effort from freshman Anna Jones. She followed up a career-high 30 points against UTEP with 15 to lead the way for Middle Tennessee and has now scored in double figures in three straight contests.
"We know that every team is going to be double- and triple-teaming Alex and our other posts, so that just opens up threes for us guards," Jones said. "We just have to knock down the shots and give them some relief."
With the slim, four-point lead entering the final quarter, the Lady Raiders turned to their defense to hold on for the win.
It was the eighth time this season and third game in a row they've held an opponent under 50 points, allowing the Mean Green to shoot just 34 percent (17-of-50) from the floor.
"We knew coming into the game that they were going to be a great defensive team, and we know that we're a good defensive team, so we knew we were going to have to grind it out," Johnson said. "When we went into our 2-3, I felt like we were able to defend them very well."
Johnson, the Preseason C-USA Player of the Year, was in her first action since MT took on Louisville on Dec. 9. The junior, who was sidelined with a foot injury, finished with eight points, three rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes played.
"I feel good," she said. "I feel like my foot is back – it isn't 100 percent, but it's to where I can move around at a comfortable rate. To me, it's all about the team win at this point."
Junior Jess Louro finished with 14 points, including a 4-of-8 night from 3-point distance, to go with six rebounds.
Middle Tennessee is now 20-4 all-time against North Texas and has won 15 in a row and 19 of the last 20 in the series.
The Lady Raiders will stay at home for a Saturday matchup with Southern Miss. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN3.
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
