Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, November 29
Estero, Fla.
10:00 AM
Middle Tennessee
5-1
73
vs
50
Auburn
2-3
1
2
3
4
F
Middle Tennessee
24
16
15
18
73
Auburn
7
12
17
14
50
Team Stats
MT
AU
FG%
.433
.340
3FG%
.345
.200
FT%
.524
.556
RB
36
29
TO
16
23
STL
12
8
Game Leaders
Pts
27
FGM
9
3FGM
6
FTM
3
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballLady Raiders throttle Auburn in Gulf Coast Showcase
11/29/2019 1:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MT wins fourth straight to reach semis
ESTERO, Fla. – Something about the Gulf Coast Showcase seems to bring out the best in the Lady Raiders.
Middle Tennessee (5-1) jumped out to an early lead against Auburn (2-3) and never let up on its way to a commanding 73-50 triumph in the opening game of the Gulf Coast Showcase here Friday morning. It was Middle Tennessee's first win against Auburn in five meetings.
The Lady Raiders won their fourth straight and will play No. 21 Gonzaga in the semifinals Saturday at 4 p.m. (Central). Middle Tennessee improved to 4-0 in the annual Thanksgiving tournament, having went 3-0 on its way to winning the inaugural event in 2013.
Middle Tennessee put on a defensive clinic as it forced 23 Auburn turnovers, collected 12 steals and limited the Tigers to 18-of-53 shooting (34 percent).
Auburn entered the contest averaging 75.5 points per game but was held to a season-low 50 points by a stifling Lady Raider defense. In fact, the 50 points were the fewest for an Auburn team since they were held to 48 against Kentucky, Feb. 1, 2018 – a span of 45 games.
"Really, really strong all-around game for our basketball team," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "We came out determined and ready to play from the opening tip. We executed our offense, really clamped down on defense and battled on the boards. It really was a complete effort. I'm really proud of our basketball team."
Taylor Sutton turned in an eye-popping performance to lead the Lady Raider charge, pouring in a career-high 27 points. The sophomore guard also established career highs for field goals (9) and steals (4), while shooting a blistering 6-of-12 from 3-point range.
Sutton poured had 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting in the opening frame. She didn't let up in the second half when she added 14 more.
The Atlanta, Ga., native was not the only Lady Raider guard to shine. Freshman Aislynn Hayes continued her impressive start as a Lady Raider with 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including four 3-pointers. Hayes tied her career high with six rebounds, collected two assists and swiped two steals.
Anastasia Hayes was also solid once again, scoring double figures for the sixth-straight game with 11. The sophomore guard added five assists, three steals and a pair of rebounds.
Middle Tennessee's starting trio of guards combined for 58 of the 73 points, collected 10 rebounds, had nine assists and added nine of the team's 12 steals. They combined to shoot 20-of-40 from the field, including 10-of-23 from 3-point range.
"Our guards were really, really good but they have been all season for the most part," Insell said. "They just keep getting better and pushing themselves and one another. Taylor Sutton is a scorer. She's one of the best shooting guards out there and she showed why today. Anastasia did a good job playmaking and creating, and what can you say about Aislynn Hayes? She continues to play strong. They were really good today as a unit. I also thought Alexis Whittington gave us quality minutes and came up strong for us too."
Whittington added four points, two rebounds and two assists.
It was another double-figure rebounding performance for Charity Savage, who ran her streak of consecutive games with 10-plus rebounds to six by tying her career high with 13. Savage just missed a double-double with nine points and added two steals.
Freshman Courtney Whitson added seven rebounds as Middle Tennessee won the battle of the boards, 36-29.
Middle Tennessee jumped out to a 24-7 lead after the first quarter and built the advantage to 40-19 at the half. The closest Auburn would get in the second half was 16, 45-29, with 4:57 remaining in the third quarter as the Lady Raiders controlled the game from the opening tip.
Middle Tennessee (5-1) jumped out to an early lead against Auburn (2-3) and never let up on its way to a commanding 73-50 triumph in the opening game of the Gulf Coast Showcase here Friday morning. It was Middle Tennessee's first win against Auburn in five meetings.
The Lady Raiders won their fourth straight and will play No. 21 Gonzaga in the semifinals Saturday at 4 p.m. (Central). Middle Tennessee improved to 4-0 in the annual Thanksgiving tournament, having went 3-0 on its way to winning the inaugural event in 2013.
Middle Tennessee put on a defensive clinic as it forced 23 Auburn turnovers, collected 12 steals and limited the Tigers to 18-of-53 shooting (34 percent).
Auburn entered the contest averaging 75.5 points per game but was held to a season-low 50 points by a stifling Lady Raider defense. In fact, the 50 points were the fewest for an Auburn team since they were held to 48 against Kentucky, Feb. 1, 2018 – a span of 45 games.
"Really, really strong all-around game for our basketball team," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "We came out determined and ready to play from the opening tip. We executed our offense, really clamped down on defense and battled on the boards. It really was a complete effort. I'm really proud of our basketball team."
Taylor Sutton turned in an eye-popping performance to lead the Lady Raider charge, pouring in a career-high 27 points. The sophomore guard also established career highs for field goals (9) and steals (4), while shooting a blistering 6-of-12 from 3-point range.
Sutton poured had 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting in the opening frame. She didn't let up in the second half when she added 14 more.
The Atlanta, Ga., native was not the only Lady Raider guard to shine. Freshman Aislynn Hayes continued her impressive start as a Lady Raider with 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including four 3-pointers. Hayes tied her career high with six rebounds, collected two assists and swiped two steals.
Anastasia Hayes was also solid once again, scoring double figures for the sixth-straight game with 11. The sophomore guard added five assists, three steals and a pair of rebounds.
Middle Tennessee's starting trio of guards combined for 58 of the 73 points, collected 10 rebounds, had nine assists and added nine of the team's 12 steals. They combined to shoot 20-of-40 from the field, including 10-of-23 from 3-point range.
"Our guards were really, really good but they have been all season for the most part," Insell said. "They just keep getting better and pushing themselves and one another. Taylor Sutton is a scorer. She's one of the best shooting guards out there and she showed why today. Anastasia did a good job playmaking and creating, and what can you say about Aislynn Hayes? She continues to play strong. They were really good today as a unit. I also thought Alexis Whittington gave us quality minutes and came up strong for us too."
Whittington added four points, two rebounds and two assists.
It was another double-figure rebounding performance for Charity Savage, who ran her streak of consecutive games with 10-plus rebounds to six by tying her career high with 13. Savage just missed a double-double with nine points and added two steals.
Freshman Courtney Whitson added seven rebounds as Middle Tennessee won the battle of the boards, 36-29.
Middle Tennessee jumped out to a 24-7 lead after the first quarter and built the advantage to 40-19 at the half. The closest Auburn would get in the second half was 16, 45-29, with 4:57 remaining in the third quarter as the Lady Raiders controlled the game from the opening tip.
2025 MTSU Basketball tickets on sale now - October 1st
Wednesday, October 01
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
