Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
South Alabama
Lady Raiders set for semifinal round game against South Alabama
3/8/2009 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Top-seed Middle Tennessee will face No. 5-seed South Alabama at 12:30 p.m. Monday in women's basketball semifinal action of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at the Summit Arena in Hot Springs, Ark. The game will be televised live by ESPN+ and available throughout the Southeast on Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS).
The Blue Raiders won the two meetings earlier this season against the Lady Jaguars by an 80-57 and 90-64 scores. Sun Belt Player of the Year Alysha Clark averaged 26.5 ppg and 15.0 rpg in the two meetings, including a season-high 18 boards in Mobile in the first contest of the series this season.
Third Team All-Sun Belt selections Chelsia Lymon and Brandi Brown also averaged double-figure scoring against South Alabama with 15.5 ppg and 14.5 ppg, respectively.
Middle Tennessee opened tournament action with an 82-47 victory Saturday against No. 9 seed New Orleans behind 35 points from Clark. All five starters reached double-figure scoring in the win, improving the Lady Raiders' record to 26-5.
South Alabama advanced with a 52-39 triumph over No. 4 seed Troy. Second Team All-SBC choice Jessica Starling paces Rick Pietri's squad with 15.0 ppg.
The winner will advance to the league championship tilt at 3 p.m. Tuesday against the victor of No. 2 UALR and No. 3 Denver.
