Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Monday, November 19
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
6:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
2-2
38
vs
45
Belmont
3-1
1
2
3
4
F
Belmont
11
6
11
17
45
Middle Tennessee
11
5
9
13
38
Team Stats
BEL
MT
FG%
.239
.233
3FG%
.045
.111
FT%
.629
.583
RB
45
47
TO
10
11
STL
4
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Cold-shooting night hampers Lady Raiders
11/19/2018 9:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – In-state foes Middle Tennessee and Belmont don't often meet on the hardwood in women's basketball, but it looked like they were old rivals Monday night.
At the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, the teams traded the lead seven times and were tied four more before Belmont edged ahead in the fourth quarter of a defensive battle for a 45-38 win.
It was the first time since the 2000 season that MT (2-2) and the Bruins (3-1) did battle. Belmont captured its first win in the 17-game series.
"It was a good game, we just didn't put the ball in the hole," Middle Tennessee coach Rick Insell said. "They have a very good team, and I wish them luck.
"They're very well-coached, have good kids, play hard – I like that."
Neither team could find a shot through the majority of the game. They combined for 23.5 percent shooting from the floor (25-106) and 8 percent (4-49) from 3-point range.
The Lady Raiders ended 14 of 60 from the floor and 3 of 27 from distance, while the Bruins were 11 of 46 and 1 of 22.
"I wish I had an answer for [the poor shooting]," Insell said. "It's got to be a little negative on your team to know you had so many go up there that rattled out, but you can't fret over that. You just have to come back and keep working. That's all you can do."
In a low-scoring game with little to separate the teams, the big difference ended up being the charity stripe.
Belmont sank 22 of its 35 attempts, while Middle Tennessee made just 7 of 12.
"I don't know if I've ever had anybody in my gym shoot that many more free throws than us since I've been coaching," Insell said.
The teams swapped the lead six times in the third quarter before the Bruins took a 28-25 advantage into the final 10 minutes.
Belmont's lead grew to 36-26 with four minutes remaining as the Lady Raiders couldn't find the bottom of the net. They missed their first seven shots in the quarter.
With things looking dire, MT needed anything to go in. The blue and white finally got it, but it was too little, too late.
The Lady Raiders hit four of their last seven shots, including a triple from freshman Taylor Sutton to make the score 41-38 with 14 seconds left, but five Bruin free throws down the stretch iced the game.
Senior Alex Johnson and redshirt junior Jordan Majors led MT with nine points apiece, and Majors added eight rebounds.
Senior A'Queen Hayes added six points and 12 rebounds, the guard's second double-digit rebounding game in a row and a new career high.
The Lady Raiders won't get to think on the loss long. Mississippi Valley State will travel to the Murphy Center on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. tipoff.
"We just have to go to work," Insell said. "We've been here before. I've started like this several times.
"Belmont is an NCAA Tournament team, and their RPI is going to be in the top 50. It's a good game for us."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
At the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, the teams traded the lead seven times and were tied four more before Belmont edged ahead in the fourth quarter of a defensive battle for a 45-38 win.
It was the first time since the 2000 season that MT (2-2) and the Bruins (3-1) did battle. Belmont captured its first win in the 17-game series.
"It was a good game, we just didn't put the ball in the hole," Middle Tennessee coach Rick Insell said. "They have a very good team, and I wish them luck.
"They're very well-coached, have good kids, play hard – I like that."
Neither team could find a shot through the majority of the game. They combined for 23.5 percent shooting from the floor (25-106) and 8 percent (4-49) from 3-point range.
The Lady Raiders ended 14 of 60 from the floor and 3 of 27 from distance, while the Bruins were 11 of 46 and 1 of 22.
"I wish I had an answer for [the poor shooting]," Insell said. "It's got to be a little negative on your team to know you had so many go up there that rattled out, but you can't fret over that. You just have to come back and keep working. That's all you can do."
In a low-scoring game with little to separate the teams, the big difference ended up being the charity stripe.
Belmont sank 22 of its 35 attempts, while Middle Tennessee made just 7 of 12.
"I don't know if I've ever had anybody in my gym shoot that many more free throws than us since I've been coaching," Insell said.
The teams swapped the lead six times in the third quarter before the Bruins took a 28-25 advantage into the final 10 minutes.
Belmont's lead grew to 36-26 with four minutes remaining as the Lady Raiders couldn't find the bottom of the net. They missed their first seven shots in the quarter.
With things looking dire, MT needed anything to go in. The blue and white finally got it, but it was too little, too late.
The Lady Raiders hit four of their last seven shots, including a triple from freshman Taylor Sutton to make the score 41-38 with 14 seconds left, but five Bruin free throws down the stretch iced the game.
Senior Alex Johnson and redshirt junior Jordan Majors led MT with nine points apiece, and Majors added eight rebounds.
Senior A'Queen Hayes added six points and 12 rebounds, the guard's second double-digit rebounding game in a row and a new career high.
The Lady Raiders won't get to think on the loss long. Mississippi Valley State will travel to the Murphy Center on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. tipoff.
"We just have to go to work," Insell said. "We've been here before. I've started like this several times.
"Belmont is an NCAA Tournament team, and their RPI is going to be in the top 50. It's a good game for us."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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