Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Wednesday, December 18
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
6:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
-74,00 CUSA
86
vs
63
VCU
4-7,0-0Atlantic
1
2
3
4
F
VCU
12
16
19
16
63
Middle Tennessee
15
31
20
20
86
Team Stats
VCU
MT
FG%
.421
.509
3FG%
.308
.444
FT%
.647
.667
RB
29
35
TO
17
17
STL
9
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
6
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Lady Raiders use hot offense to torch VCU
12/18/2019 9:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Rams entered game with Top 10 defense
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — It was hard to tell there was a nationally-ranked Top-10 defense on the Murphy Center hardwood Wednesday.
Middle Tennessee (7-4) squared off with VCU (4-7) for the first time and got off to a blistering start offensively before cruising late. It never trailed in an 86-63 win.
"I thought the second quarter was the big quarter," Insell said. "We scored 31 points, and we have to keep pushing the ball like that.
"I'm really proud of the girls. We've played a tough schedule and we need a break right now … we're weary."
VCU went into the night as one of the best defensive teams in the country, ranking fifth nationally in scoring defense (52 points per game), third in field goal percentage defense (33.2 percent) and sixth in 3-point defense (26.2 percent).
The Lady Raiders sure weren't intimidated by those stats.
They caught fire in the second quarter thanks to running in transition, hitting five shots in a row at one point and eight of their last 11 in the half to build a 46-28 lead at the break. All they had to do then was hang on to the double-digit advantage.
"It makes it a lot easier [when we're running in transition]," freshman Aislynn Hayes said. "We have to reward the drivers by making shots when they kick it back out to us."
Against maybe the toughest defense it's faced this season, Middle Tennessee had arguably its best first-half offensive showing so far.
While shooting 50 percent from the field (14-28), the Lady Raiders scored their most first-half points of the season and knocked down 8-of-17 attempts from distance. Nine of their 14 made shots came off assists.
The hot first half led to new season highs in points, 3-point percentage (44.4), free throws made (20-30) and assists (16), and tied the season high in 3-pointers made (12-27).
"We focused a lot on transition in practice," sophomore Alexis Whittington said. "We have a lot of speed this year, so our focus is to just get out and go. I feel like we did a really good job of that tonight."
Hayes led the way with a career-high 23 points, including five made 3-pointers, and seven rebounds. A trio of sophomores also hit double-figure scoring, Anastasia Hayes finishing with 18 to go with five assists and three steals, Taylor Sutton adding 13 points and Whittington chipping in a career-high 15 on five made treys.
Senior Charity Savage also had eight points and 13 rebounds to tie her career high, all despite playing on a hurt groin.
She's far from the only Lady Raider who's happy to get some time off over the holidays to heal some wounds. Their next game isn't until a home matchup with TCU on Dec. 29.
"We won't even see our players again until the 26th," Insell said. "I don't care if they don't play basketball, don't get in the gym, don't run — I want them to be with their family and their friends and celebrate Christmas. We'll come back in after that and get back rolling."
Middle Tennessee (7-4) squared off with VCU (4-7) for the first time and got off to a blistering start offensively before cruising late. It never trailed in an 86-63 win.
"I thought the second quarter was the big quarter," Insell said. "We scored 31 points, and we have to keep pushing the ball like that.
"I'm really proud of the girls. We've played a tough schedule and we need a break right now … we're weary."
VCU went into the night as one of the best defensive teams in the country, ranking fifth nationally in scoring defense (52 points per game), third in field goal percentage defense (33.2 percent) and sixth in 3-point defense (26.2 percent).
The Lady Raiders sure weren't intimidated by those stats.
They caught fire in the second quarter thanks to running in transition, hitting five shots in a row at one point and eight of their last 11 in the half to build a 46-28 lead at the break. All they had to do then was hang on to the double-digit advantage.
"It makes it a lot easier [when we're running in transition]," freshman Aislynn Hayes said. "We have to reward the drivers by making shots when they kick it back out to us."
Against maybe the toughest defense it's faced this season, Middle Tennessee had arguably its best first-half offensive showing so far.
While shooting 50 percent from the field (14-28), the Lady Raiders scored their most first-half points of the season and knocked down 8-of-17 attempts from distance. Nine of their 14 made shots came off assists.
The hot first half led to new season highs in points, 3-point percentage (44.4), free throws made (20-30) and assists (16), and tied the season high in 3-pointers made (12-27).
"We focused a lot on transition in practice," sophomore Alexis Whittington said. "We have a lot of speed this year, so our focus is to just get out and go. I feel like we did a really good job of that tonight."
Hayes led the way with a career-high 23 points, including five made 3-pointers, and seven rebounds. A trio of sophomores also hit double-figure scoring, Anastasia Hayes finishing with 18 to go with five assists and three steals, Taylor Sutton adding 13 points and Whittington chipping in a career-high 15 on five made treys.
Senior Charity Savage also had eight points and 13 rebounds to tie her career high, all despite playing on a hurt groin.
She's far from the only Lady Raider who's happy to get some time off over the holidays to heal some wounds. Their next game isn't until a home matchup with TCU on Dec. 29.
"We won't even see our players again until the 26th," Insell said. "I don't care if they don't play basketball, don't get in the gym, don't run — I want them to be with their family and their friends and celebrate Christmas. We'll come back in after that and get back rolling."
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
