MT, TTU renew longstanding rivalry

Sunday, December 28

Cookeville, Tenn.

2 PM

Middle Tennessee

Tennessee Tech

12/27/2014 5:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Series tied 38-38, but Raiders have won last nine

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO – Middle Tennessee will face longtime rival Tennessee Tech to close out the non-conference portion of its regular-season slate Sunday in Cookeville. Tipoff is 2 p.m. at the Eblen Center.

The Blue Raiders (5-4) have faced Tennessee Tech more than any other program in school history. The series is tied 38-38; however, Middle Tennessee has won the last nine straight. Blue Raider Head Coach Rick Insell is 9-0 against Tennessee Tech.

The Golden Eagles are 3-9 under third-year Head Coach Jim Davis, who served as Middle Tennessee's head coach for one season, 1986-87, before leaving for Clemson. The game against Middle Tennessee will be just the third of the season for Tech.

Middle Tennessee has won four of its last six and is looking to continue building momentum with the C-USA opener one week away. Olivia Jones leads C-USA in scoring (18.2) and steals (3.4), and she is fourth in rebounding (9.2).

Jones, combined with 6-foot-4 post Cheyenne Parker, give the Blue Raiders a strong combination. Parker is averaging 16.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game. Jones has scored double figures in all nine games and Parker has reached double figures in all but one of the six games in which she has appeared.

The Blue Raiders are coming off of one of their best all-around games with four players in double figures. MT connected on a season-high nine 3-pointers and forced 29 turnovers in its 79-57 win against UCF. Jones and newcomer Brea Edwards supplied seven of the nine treys with Jones connecting on a career-best four.

Jones and China Dow are also proving to be a strong suit in MT's defense. They rank first and third, respectively, in C-USA in steals. In fact, they are two of the top players in the nation in that category. Jones ranks third nationally with 3.4 steals per game and Dow is 81^st with 2.4.

Going into the game at Tennessee Tech, Middle Tennessee's non-conference schedule is rated second-toughest nationally. Opponents of the Blue Raiders have a 69-26 combined record.