Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Thursday, February 1
Murfreesboro, TN
6:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
13-9, 5-4
49
vs
66
Louisiana Tech
14-8, 5-4
1
2
3
4
F
LA TECH
6
16
14
30
66
Middle Tennessee
10
8
16
15
49
Team Stats
LT
MT
FG%
.450
.413
3FG%
.313
.133
FT%
.714
.600
RB
27
29
TO
15
20
STL
8
9
Game Leaders
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballLady Raiders stumble at home against LA Tech
2/1/2018 9:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Johnson leads way with 13 points
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – A long winning streak against the LA Tech Lady Techsters came to an end for Middle Tennessee Thursday night.
The Lady Raiders (13-9, 5-4) went into the game on a six-game winning streak in the 10-game series against the Lady Techsters (14-8, 5-4), but couldn't find enough offense in the 66-49 loss. Middle Tennessee still leads the all-time series 6-5.
"We just weren't a good basketball team tonight," Head Coach Rick Insell said. "No excuses – we just didn't play good team ball."
Defense wasn't the issue for MT for most of the way – it was an anemic offense that struggled all night to find rhythm.
The Lady Raiders, who average 57.6 points per game, tried to establish dominance in the paint early behind Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year Alex Johnson, but LA Tech didn't make it easy.
Johnson and her fellow post mates saw constant double teams, and even when they kicked it out for open looks Middle Tennessee failed to capitalize, especially from long distance. It finished just 2-of-15 from 3-point range after going into the game ranked fourth in the conference with a 34.5-percent clip from deep.
"We were lackadaisical, lethargic – whatever you want to call it," Insell said. "We just weren't a good basketball team tonight."
While the Lady Raiders tried to figure things out offensively, their nationally 11th-ranked defense kept the game close for most of the way.
After giving up just six points in the first quarter, Middle Tennessee went into the halftime break down 22-18, only allowing the Lady Techsters to hit 31.8 percent of their shots and forcing nine turnovers.
The blue-clad ladies continued their stingy defense out of the break, keeping the score at a close 36-34 at the end of three quarters, but in the final frame LA Tech finally found some stability offensively.
Middle Tennessee fell victim to a 14-2 Lady Techster run to start the final quarter, and the Lady Raiders couldn't recover. LA Tech finished with 30 points in the fourth after scoring just 36 in the game's first three quarters.
"We have to grow up and learn how to execute and get stops," senior Gabby Lyon said. "We had it cut to two coming into the fourth, and they just took over from there. We just have to grow up."
Johnson led the way offensively for MT with 13 points. Senior Rebecca Reuter added nine to go with six rebounds, while Lyon had seven points and seven boards off the bench.
The Lady Raiders have a whole week to work on what went wrong. They don't hit the floor again until Feb. 8 at Florida Atlantic, following with a Feb. 10 matchup at FIU.
Having a week could be just what Insell's team needs with the final push towards the C-USA Tournament upcoming.
"As a post group, we really have to get it together," Reuter said. "When teams guard our shooters like [LA Tech], the lane is open and we have to make shots. We all have to do a little more."
The Lady Raiders (13-9, 5-4) went into the game on a six-game winning streak in the 10-game series against the Lady Techsters (14-8, 5-4), but couldn't find enough offense in the 66-49 loss. Middle Tennessee still leads the all-time series 6-5.
"We just weren't a good basketball team tonight," Head Coach Rick Insell said. "No excuses – we just didn't play good team ball."
Defense wasn't the issue for MT for most of the way – it was an anemic offense that struggled all night to find rhythm.
The Lady Raiders, who average 57.6 points per game, tried to establish dominance in the paint early behind Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year Alex Johnson, but LA Tech didn't make it easy.
Johnson and her fellow post mates saw constant double teams, and even when they kicked it out for open looks Middle Tennessee failed to capitalize, especially from long distance. It finished just 2-of-15 from 3-point range after going into the game ranked fourth in the conference with a 34.5-percent clip from deep.
"We were lackadaisical, lethargic – whatever you want to call it," Insell said. "We just weren't a good basketball team tonight."
While the Lady Raiders tried to figure things out offensively, their nationally 11th-ranked defense kept the game close for most of the way.
After giving up just six points in the first quarter, Middle Tennessee went into the halftime break down 22-18, only allowing the Lady Techsters to hit 31.8 percent of their shots and forcing nine turnovers.
The blue-clad ladies continued their stingy defense out of the break, keeping the score at a close 36-34 at the end of three quarters, but in the final frame LA Tech finally found some stability offensively.
Middle Tennessee fell victim to a 14-2 Lady Techster run to start the final quarter, and the Lady Raiders couldn't recover. LA Tech finished with 30 points in the fourth after scoring just 36 in the game's first three quarters.
"We have to grow up and learn how to execute and get stops," senior Gabby Lyon said. "We had it cut to two coming into the fourth, and they just took over from there. We just have to grow up."
Johnson led the way offensively for MT with 13 points. Senior Rebecca Reuter added nine to go with six rebounds, while Lyon had seven points and seven boards off the bench.
The Lady Raiders have a whole week to work on what went wrong. They don't hit the floor again until Feb. 8 at Florida Atlantic, following with a Feb. 10 matchup at FIU.
Having a week could be just what Insell's team needs with the final push towards the C-USA Tournament upcoming.
"As a post group, we really have to get it together," Reuter said. "When teams guard our shooters like [LA Tech], the lane is open and we have to make shots. We all have to do a little more."
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