Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Sunday, November 10
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
3:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
-11,00 CUSA
52
vs
67
Kentucky (ESPN+)
2-0,0-0SEC
1
2
3
4
F
Kentucky
8
14
31
14
67
Middle Tennessee
10
8
18
16
52
Team Stats
UK
MT
FG%
.391
.380
3FG%
.333
.083
FT%
.714
.565
RB
42
32
TO
16
20
STL
7
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
Strong defense not enough for Lady Raiders
11/10/2019 5:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MT falls to No. 13 Kentucky, 67-52
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Despite a strong showing defensively, Middle Tennessee fell 67-52 in its home opener Sunday to No. 13 Kentucky.
The Lady Raiders (1-1) did what's become commonplace on the defensive end, holding one of the best teams in the country to 39 percent shooting. They just couldn't find enough offense against an equally tough Wildcats (2-0) defense.
Middle Tennessee's impressive defense was especially effective against Kentucky sophomore Rhyne Howard. The reigning national freshman of the year finished with nine points on 2-of-10 shooting, and she was called for four fouls, including a technical.
"We let the ballgame get away from us early in the third quarter," MT Head Coach Rick Insell said. "We're young; we'll get better. I'm not going to allow this game to define us … we'll come back in here tomorrow and go back to work."
It looked early on like an upset was brewing.
Kentucky struggled offensively to the tune of 25 percent shooting (7-of-28) in the first half and turned the ball over nine times, and at the half, MT found itself in striking distance down 22-18.
"That was the key, playing defense," Middle Tennessee sophomore Anastasia Hayes said. "We both are pretty good defensive teams … they just kind of out-toughed us defensively."
The Wildcats found their footing in the third quarter, thwarting the upset opportunity.
They outscored the Lady Raiders 31-18 in the quarter, and despite a 5-0 run by the home team to end the frame, UK had a 53-36 lead going into the fourth quarter.
"Our defense in the third quarter, that's what hurt us," Hayes said. "They out-toughed us in the third quarter, and that's what set us back."
Middle Tennessee's run to close the third quarter carried over into the fourth. It scored 10 straight points to cut the lead down to 12, but couldn't get any closer.
"It was a wakeup call," MT senior Charity Savage said. "We did well against Eastern Carolina's press in the second half, but in the third quarter, we didn't play well against Kentucky's press.
"We have to handle presses better with less turnovers."
The Lady Raiders were led by an all-around performance from Hayes. The Murfreesboro native, playing in her first game in front of her hometown crowd, finished with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting and added eight rebounds and four assists.
Savage, fresh off her first-career double-double in the season opener, had eight points, 10 rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.
Middle Tennessee will look to get back on the winning side of things when it travels to Tulane Nov. 14.
"We did enough defensively [today], we just didn't do a good job of running or executing our offense," Insell said. "We have to know where we want to go with the basketball and get our spacing right … and that comes back to chemistry.
"We have a lot of room for growth. I'm not going to allow this game to define us. I'm upset that we didn't win the game … but there's a bright tomorrow with this bunch."
The Lady Raiders (1-1) did what's become commonplace on the defensive end, holding one of the best teams in the country to 39 percent shooting. They just couldn't find enough offense against an equally tough Wildcats (2-0) defense.
Middle Tennessee's impressive defense was especially effective against Kentucky sophomore Rhyne Howard. The reigning national freshman of the year finished with nine points on 2-of-10 shooting, and she was called for four fouls, including a technical.
"We let the ballgame get away from us early in the third quarter," MT Head Coach Rick Insell said. "We're young; we'll get better. I'm not going to allow this game to define us … we'll come back in here tomorrow and go back to work."
It looked early on like an upset was brewing.
Kentucky struggled offensively to the tune of 25 percent shooting (7-of-28) in the first half and turned the ball over nine times, and at the half, MT found itself in striking distance down 22-18.
"That was the key, playing defense," Middle Tennessee sophomore Anastasia Hayes said. "We both are pretty good defensive teams … they just kind of out-toughed us defensively."
The Wildcats found their footing in the third quarter, thwarting the upset opportunity.
They outscored the Lady Raiders 31-18 in the quarter, and despite a 5-0 run by the home team to end the frame, UK had a 53-36 lead going into the fourth quarter.
"Our defense in the third quarter, that's what hurt us," Hayes said. "They out-toughed us in the third quarter, and that's what set us back."
Middle Tennessee's run to close the third quarter carried over into the fourth. It scored 10 straight points to cut the lead down to 12, but couldn't get any closer.
"It was a wakeup call," MT senior Charity Savage said. "We did well against Eastern Carolina's press in the second half, but in the third quarter, we didn't play well against Kentucky's press.
"We have to handle presses better with less turnovers."
The Lady Raiders were led by an all-around performance from Hayes. The Murfreesboro native, playing in her first game in front of her hometown crowd, finished with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting and added eight rebounds and four assists.
Savage, fresh off her first-career double-double in the season opener, had eight points, 10 rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.
Middle Tennessee will look to get back on the winning side of things when it travels to Tulane Nov. 14.
"We did enough defensively [today], we just didn't do a good job of running or executing our offense," Insell said. "We have to know where we want to go with the basketball and get our spacing right … and that comes back to chemistry.
"We have a lot of room for growth. I'm not going to allow this game to define us. I'm upset that we didn't win the game … but there's a bright tomorrow with this bunch."
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
