Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Light December stretch gift for Lady Raiders
12/19/2019 4:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — There's one present this holiday season Middle Tennessee's Lady Raiders won't have to unwrap.
After starting with seven games in the season's first 25 days, MT has been given a light end to the nonconference slate featuring only five games in 32 days, including a completely game-free Christmas week.
Following an 86-63 win over VCU on Wednesday, Head Coach Rick Insell granted the players with a whole week off. They won't practice again until Dec. 26, and to say the holiday break is the perfect gift for the Lady Raiders would be an understatement.
"I think we need the break," freshman Aislynn Hayes said. "We get to sleep, that's what I'm happy about."
Middle Tennessee's December slate is a bit unique in women's college basketball this season. Not counting its Dec. 1 Gulf Coast Showcase tournament finale against Arizona State, MT is one of only 23 Division I teams (351 total, 6.5 percent) with four or less scheduled games in the month. Three of those contests are at home, with the lone road trip a short jaunt to in-state foe Belmont.
The Lady Raiders played their final game of the Gulf Coast Showcase against Arizona State on Dec. 1, then returned home and won't leave the Nashville Metro area until a road trip to play Marshall Jan. 9.
"We played a pretty tough schedule in November … and have faced some good competition," Insell said. "The girls need a break right now. We're a little weary."
Having an opportunity to play a lighter schedule with Conference USA play looming might mean more to the Lady Raiders this year than it would've in years past.
They play a tighter rotation than in previous seasons, usually of just six or seven players, and each player in the starting five is currently averaging at least 30 minutes per outing. Anastasia Hayes (second), Charity Savage (third), Aislynn Hayes (fourth) and Taylor Sutton (seventh) each rank in the top seven of C-USA in minutes played.
Those minutes have started to add up, as Savage, Anastasia Hayes and Sutton each played with minor ailments in the team's most previous win over VCU.
"I think we all just trust each other on the floor, and we don't want to let each other down," sophomore Alexis Whittington said. "It's great they come out and play as hard as they always do despite being a little injured … but this break will be good to get some rest, for sure."
The easy end to 2019 does more than gives Middle Tennessee a chance to be home. It's also a chance to get in the practice gym, though the holidays throw a bit of a wrench in those plans.
With a young team, there's plenty Insell wants to see improved.
"There's still some improvement there," he said. "We're getting better every single day. We just have to come back after our holiday break and be ready to go in the conference season. We have some tough matchups to start that conference schedule."
The grind of a conference season awaits as Middle Tennessee strives for its 17th straight postseason appearance.
There's a bigger goal in mind than just playing past the Conference USA tournament, though. The Lady Raiders haven't been to the NCAA Tournament since the 2015-16 season, a streak Insell and his bunch are itching to end.
Having an opportunity to recharge their batteries before setting out on that quest makes for quite the holiday season for the ladies in blue.
"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."
After starting with seven games in the season's first 25 days, MT has been given a light end to the nonconference slate featuring only five games in 32 days, including a completely game-free Christmas week.
Following an 86-63 win over VCU on Wednesday, Head Coach Rick Insell granted the players with a whole week off. They won't practice again until Dec. 26, and to say the holiday break is the perfect gift for the Lady Raiders would be an understatement.
"I think we need the break," freshman Aislynn Hayes said. "We get to sleep, that's what I'm happy about."
Middle Tennessee's December slate is a bit unique in women's college basketball this season. Not counting its Dec. 1 Gulf Coast Showcase tournament finale against Arizona State, MT is one of only 23 Division I teams (351 total, 6.5 percent) with four or less scheduled games in the month. Three of those contests are at home, with the lone road trip a short jaunt to in-state foe Belmont.
The Lady Raiders played their final game of the Gulf Coast Showcase against Arizona State on Dec. 1, then returned home and won't leave the Nashville Metro area until a road trip to play Marshall Jan. 9.
"We played a pretty tough schedule in November … and have faced some good competition," Insell said. "The girls need a break right now. We're a little weary."
Having an opportunity to play a lighter schedule with Conference USA play looming might mean more to the Lady Raiders this year than it would've in years past.
They play a tighter rotation than in previous seasons, usually of just six or seven players, and each player in the starting five is currently averaging at least 30 minutes per outing. Anastasia Hayes (second), Charity Savage (third), Aislynn Hayes (fourth) and Taylor Sutton (seventh) each rank in the top seven of C-USA in minutes played.
Those minutes have started to add up, as Savage, Anastasia Hayes and Sutton each played with minor ailments in the team's most previous win over VCU.
"I think we all just trust each other on the floor, and we don't want to let each other down," sophomore Alexis Whittington said. "It's great they come out and play as hard as they always do despite being a little injured … but this break will be good to get some rest, for sure."
The easy end to 2019 does more than gives Middle Tennessee a chance to be home. It's also a chance to get in the practice gym, though the holidays throw a bit of a wrench in those plans.
With a young team, there's plenty Insell wants to see improved.
"There's still some improvement there," he said. "We're getting better every single day. We just have to come back after our holiday break and be ready to go in the conference season. We have some tough matchups to start that conference schedule."
The grind of a conference season awaits as Middle Tennessee strives for its 17th straight postseason appearance.
There's a bigger goal in mind than just playing past the Conference USA tournament, though. The Lady Raiders haven't been to the NCAA Tournament since the 2015-16 season, a streak Insell and his bunch are itching to end.
Having an opportunity to recharge their batteries before setting out on that quest makes for quite the holiday season for the ladies in blue.
"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."
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