Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, January 20
Murfreesboro, TN
1 PM
Middle Tennessee
11-8, 3-3
53
vs
61
Southern Mississippi
11-7, 3-2
1
2
3
4
F
Southern Miss
18
16
12
15
61
Middle Tennessee
14
14
12
13
53
Team Stats
USM
MT
FG%
.408
.311
3FG%
.400
.320
FT%
.773
.739
RB
42
25
TO
12
10
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
8
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballLady Raiders drop home contest to Southern Miss
1/20/2018 3:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Lack of rebounding proves costly
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee's inability to battle on the boards with Southern Miss proved costly in a 61-53 loss here Saturday as the Lady Raiders dropped to 11-8 overall, 3-3 in C-USA.
The Lady Raiders' downfall, according to head coach Rick Insell, came on the backboards, where Southern Miss won the rebounding battle 42-25, including 16 offensive boards.
"We have to rebound the basketball – that was the whole difference in the game," he said. "We just didn't go to the boards … you don't deserve to win a game when you do that."
Despite Southern Miss coming out of the gates hot against Middle Tennessee's stifling defense, the Lady Raiders were able to keep the halftime score close, at 34-28, behind junior and C-USA Preseason Player of the Year Alex Johnson.
Johnson, a Murfreesboro native making her second start since returning from a foot injury that sidelined her the previous nine games, poured in nine points on 3-of-7 shooting in the first half to help keep her team in it.
"Coming out, yeah, I felt more comfortable," she said. "Even in the first game, I didn't doubt myself … this is the game I've been playing all my life, so I'm just coming out to help my team in whichever way I can."
After the halftime intermission, Middle Tennessee came out with a renewed defensive intensity, though its offense couldn't keep up.
The conference's second-best scoring defense (54.7 points per game allowed) flexed its muscle, forcing Southern Miss into misses on its first 12 shots of the third quarter after the Lady Eagles hit 52.2 percent in the first half (12-of-23). But, despite the good defensive effort, MT couldn't cut the deficit.
Though they figured things out defensively, the Lady Raiders ran into their own issues offensively in the second half. They countered the rough shooting by Southern Miss with just a 1-for-10 showing in the third quarter as the away team kept a 46-40 lead going into the final frame.
"It wasn't anything they did," senior Abbey Sissom said. "It was all on us. They didn't play some tremendous defense or anything like that. It was all on us."
Southern Miss grew the lead to eight midway through the fourth quarter, and while Middle Tennessee cut it to two with back-to-back 3-pointers from senior Rebecca Reuter with 2:30 remaining, it couldn't sustain the run to grab the lead.
The Lady Eagles responded with an 8-2 run over the final two minutes, clinching the win.
"Down the stretch, we missed a tip, a wide-open layup and four free throws. That's eight points, and if you look at the score, it was 61-53," Insell said. "We can't fault our effort. We just didn't get it done, and they did."
Johnson finished with a season-high 17 points to go with five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. Reuter had nine points, while freshman Anna Jones also had nine off the bench.
The Lady Raiders will be back in action Friday at Marshall, following at Charlotte on Sunday, Jan. 28. The games are scheduled for 5 p.m. and 2 p.m. CT, respectively, both on ESPN3.
The Lady Raiders' downfall, according to head coach Rick Insell, came on the backboards, where Southern Miss won the rebounding battle 42-25, including 16 offensive boards.
"We have to rebound the basketball – that was the whole difference in the game," he said. "We just didn't go to the boards … you don't deserve to win a game when you do that."
Despite Southern Miss coming out of the gates hot against Middle Tennessee's stifling defense, the Lady Raiders were able to keep the halftime score close, at 34-28, behind junior and C-USA Preseason Player of the Year Alex Johnson.
Johnson, a Murfreesboro native making her second start since returning from a foot injury that sidelined her the previous nine games, poured in nine points on 3-of-7 shooting in the first half to help keep her team in it.
"Coming out, yeah, I felt more comfortable," she said. "Even in the first game, I didn't doubt myself … this is the game I've been playing all my life, so I'm just coming out to help my team in whichever way I can."
After the halftime intermission, Middle Tennessee came out with a renewed defensive intensity, though its offense couldn't keep up.
The conference's second-best scoring defense (54.7 points per game allowed) flexed its muscle, forcing Southern Miss into misses on its first 12 shots of the third quarter after the Lady Eagles hit 52.2 percent in the first half (12-of-23). But, despite the good defensive effort, MT couldn't cut the deficit.
Though they figured things out defensively, the Lady Raiders ran into their own issues offensively in the second half. They countered the rough shooting by Southern Miss with just a 1-for-10 showing in the third quarter as the away team kept a 46-40 lead going into the final frame.
"It wasn't anything they did," senior Abbey Sissom said. "It was all on us. They didn't play some tremendous defense or anything like that. It was all on us."
Southern Miss grew the lead to eight midway through the fourth quarter, and while Middle Tennessee cut it to two with back-to-back 3-pointers from senior Rebecca Reuter with 2:30 remaining, it couldn't sustain the run to grab the lead.
The Lady Eagles responded with an 8-2 run over the final two minutes, clinching the win.
"Down the stretch, we missed a tip, a wide-open layup and four free throws. That's eight points, and if you look at the score, it was 61-53," Insell said. "We can't fault our effort. We just didn't get it done, and they did."
Johnson finished with a season-high 17 points to go with five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. Reuter had nine points, while freshman Anna Jones also had nine off the bench.
The Lady Raiders will be back in action Friday at Marshall, following at Charlotte on Sunday, Jan. 28. The games are scheduled for 5 p.m. and 2 p.m. CT, respectively, both 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
