Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Sunday, November 24
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
2:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
-41,00 CUSA
78
vs
62
Furman
3-3,0-0SoCon
1
2
3
4
F
Furman
9
20
19
14
62
Middle Tennessee
23
20
21
14
78
Team Stats
FURMAN
MT
FG%
.463
.558
3FG%
.381
.409
FT%
.400
.611
RB
26
35
TO
18
14
STL
5
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballLady Raiders capture third-straight win
11/24/2019 4:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Savage makes history in victory
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A first-half offensive clinic was enough for Middle Tennessee to cruise to a 78-62 victory Sunday afternoon.
The Lady Raiders (4-1) played host to Furman (3-3) in the teams' fifth meeting all-time and took a 3-2 advantage thanks to crisp ball movement and long-distance sharpshooting.
After two quarters of play, MT held a 43-29 lead, shooting an efficient 16-for-27 (59 percent) from the floor and 7-for-12 (67 percent) from 3-point range with nine assists. The Raiders also forced 10 Paladins turnovers, leading to 17 points on the other end.
Three underclassmen led the way, sophomore Taylor Sutton and freshmen Aislynn Hayes and Courtney Whitson each scoring 10 points in the first half.
"We didn't take them for granted," MT Head Coach Rick Insell said. "[Assistant coach] Shalon Pillow had our scout, and she did a great job … and I'm really proud that our girls invested in the scout.
"We've got a good offensive basketball team, and all five of our starters can shoot threes … and penetrate. We're not really big, but we've got big engines."
With the double-digit lead in hand, Middle Tennessee just had to rely on its defense to keep Furman at bay.
It did just that, forcing eight more turnovers in the second half that led to 11 Lady Raiders points.
MT went into the game giving up 63.2 points while forcing 17 turnovers per game and improved both of those numbers while winning the rebounding battle 35-26.
"Most importantly, when we start out with our defensive principles, it helps us offensively to get in the flow," Whitson said. "We wanted to come out with confidence and no hesitation, and it worked pretty well."
The three-headed offensive machine from the first half was added to by redshirt sophomore Anastasia Hayes after halftime. She scored 10 of her 17 points in the final two quarters, also finishing with eight rebounds and five assists.
Sutton finished with 16 points, including three 3-pointers, while Aislynn Hayes had 15 points, four assists and four steals. Whitson hit six of her seven shots for 14 points, one off her career high.
Senior Charity Savage also entered the Middle Tennessee record books Sunday, finishing with seven points and 13 rebounds to become the first player in program history with double-digit rebounds in the first five games of a season.
"It felt like all of my hard work had paid off," she said. "I honestly thought I had like seven, but I went to the bench and someone said I had 12 rebounds. I wasn't sure they were counting that right."
The Lady Raiders will take their three-game winning streak into the Gulf Coast Showcase, a midseason Thanksgiving weekend tournament in Estero, Fla. They'll start the tournament against Auburn at 10 a.m. on Nov. 29.
"I think, right now, our RPI is 31 … and we have a chance to make some waves down there," Insell said. "We have to take advantage of it."
The Lady Raiders (4-1) played host to Furman (3-3) in the teams' fifth meeting all-time and took a 3-2 advantage thanks to crisp ball movement and long-distance sharpshooting.
After two quarters of play, MT held a 43-29 lead, shooting an efficient 16-for-27 (59 percent) from the floor and 7-for-12 (67 percent) from 3-point range with nine assists. The Raiders also forced 10 Paladins turnovers, leading to 17 points on the other end.
Three underclassmen led the way, sophomore Taylor Sutton and freshmen Aislynn Hayes and Courtney Whitson each scoring 10 points in the first half.
"We didn't take them for granted," MT Head Coach Rick Insell said. "[Assistant coach] Shalon Pillow had our scout, and she did a great job … and I'm really proud that our girls invested in the scout.
"We've got a good offensive basketball team, and all five of our starters can shoot threes … and penetrate. We're not really big, but we've got big engines."
With the double-digit lead in hand, Middle Tennessee just had to rely on its defense to keep Furman at bay.
It did just that, forcing eight more turnovers in the second half that led to 11 Lady Raiders points.
MT went into the game giving up 63.2 points while forcing 17 turnovers per game and improved both of those numbers while winning the rebounding battle 35-26.
"Most importantly, when we start out with our defensive principles, it helps us offensively to get in the flow," Whitson said. "We wanted to come out with confidence and no hesitation, and it worked pretty well."
The three-headed offensive machine from the first half was added to by redshirt sophomore Anastasia Hayes after halftime. She scored 10 of her 17 points in the final two quarters, also finishing with eight rebounds and five assists.
Sutton finished with 16 points, including three 3-pointers, while Aislynn Hayes had 15 points, four assists and four steals. Whitson hit six of her seven shots for 14 points, one off her career high.
Senior Charity Savage also entered the Middle Tennessee record books Sunday, finishing with seven points and 13 rebounds to become the first player in program history with double-digit rebounds in the first five games of a season.
"It felt like all of my hard work had paid off," she said. "I honestly thought I had like seven, but I went to the bench and someone said I had 12 rebounds. I wasn't sure they were counting that right."
The Lady Raiders will take their three-game winning streak into the Gulf Coast Showcase, a midseason Thanksgiving weekend tournament in Estero, Fla. They'll start the tournament against Auburn at 10 a.m. on Nov. 29.
"I think, right now, our RPI is 31 … and we have a chance to make some waves down there," Insell said. "We have to take advantage of it."
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
