Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, January 30
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
6:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
-147,63 CUSA
76
vs
60
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
UTEP (ESPN3)
-127,53 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
UTEP
10
17
14
19
60
Middle Tennessee
22
19
15
20
76
Team Stats
UTEP
MT
FG%
.371
.397
3FG%
.211
.286
FT%
.500
.828
RB
49
33
TO
24
14
STL
7
14
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
24
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
12
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
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: Emily Cole/MT Athletic 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: Emily Cole/MT Athletic 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: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Lady Raiders roll past UTEP
1/30/2020 9:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Aislynn Hayes nets career-high 24 points
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee put UTEP away early Thursday night at the Murphy Center.
In the eighth meeting all-time between the Conference USA foes, the Lady Raiders used a big run to end the first quarter and start the second to get up by double digits and cruised from there, winning 76-60.
"I just thought we played with a lot of heart," MT Head Coach Rick Insell said. "I thought our kids played tough, hard-nosed defense at times and made plays when we needed to make plays."
Both teams struggled early on to find the bottom of the net, but Middle Tennessee leaned on its defense and free-throw shooting to get momentum.
The blue and white forced eight turnovers in the first quarter — five steals — and limited the Miners to 30 percent shooting, and on the other end hit 10-of-11 free throws.
Seeing that many free ones drop was quite a turnaround for the Lady Raiders. In the nonconference slate, they made just 58 percent of their free throws, but they've upped that to 68 percent in conference play.
"Every day after practice we're working on our free throws," freshman Aislynn Hayes said. "We do a little bit in practice, but mainly it's us working on our own."
Sophomore Taylor Sutton hit a pair from the charity stripe with just over two minutes to go in the first quarter, then she and freshman Aislynn Hayes drained 3-pointers to close the frame on an 8-0 run.
Middle Tennessee went into the first break with a 22-10 lead, and it ballooned to 31-10 before UTEP finally got a layup to fall, ending a 17-0 run.
The Miners would cut the lead to seven in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Raiders gathered themselves for a final push to victory. They hit nine of 11 free-throw attempts in the final frame, finishing the night 24 of 29 (83 percent), and forced three turnovers in the last two minutes, 24 for the game.
"We were focused," sophomore Alexis Whittington said. "We have tons of offensive talent, but once we sit on defense, we're a great team. It's hard for people to beat us when our defense is on, so that's what we work for every game."
Leading MT in the scoring column was Aislynn Hayes with a career-high 24 points, her fifth 20-point outing of the season. She hit 12 of 16 free throws and also grabbed six rebounds.
Sutton had 16 points, and Whittington added 11 points and three blocks off the bench. Senior Charity Savage scored five points with 12 rebounds, three assists, four blocks and three steals.
Also filling the stat sheet was sophomore Anastasia Hayes, who, like her sister, had a big night from the charity stripe. She had 13 points, seven of them coming from the free-throw line, where she only missed once.
Keeping that good mojo going from the stripe will be a big key for Insell's bunch. They'll be back in action Saturday at home against UTSA.
"We've got to get more consistent," Insell said. "We can't come in here and lay down Saturday, because [UTSA] has a good basketball team."
In the eighth meeting all-time between the Conference USA foes, the Lady Raiders used a big run to end the first quarter and start the second to get up by double digits and cruised from there, winning 76-60.
"I just thought we played with a lot of heart," MT Head Coach Rick Insell said. "I thought our kids played tough, hard-nosed defense at times and made plays when we needed to make plays."
Both teams struggled early on to find the bottom of the net, but Middle Tennessee leaned on its defense and free-throw shooting to get momentum.
The blue and white forced eight turnovers in the first quarter — five steals — and limited the Miners to 30 percent shooting, and on the other end hit 10-of-11 free throws.
Seeing that many free ones drop was quite a turnaround for the Lady Raiders. In the nonconference slate, they made just 58 percent of their free throws, but they've upped that to 68 percent in conference play.
"Every day after practice we're working on our free throws," freshman Aislynn Hayes said. "We do a little bit in practice, but mainly it's us working on our own."
Sophomore Taylor Sutton hit a pair from the charity stripe with just over two minutes to go in the first quarter, then she and freshman Aislynn Hayes drained 3-pointers to close the frame on an 8-0 run.
Middle Tennessee went into the first break with a 22-10 lead, and it ballooned to 31-10 before UTEP finally got a layup to fall, ending a 17-0 run.
The Miners would cut the lead to seven in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Raiders gathered themselves for a final push to victory. They hit nine of 11 free-throw attempts in the final frame, finishing the night 24 of 29 (83 percent), and forced three turnovers in the last two minutes, 24 for the game.
"We were focused," sophomore Alexis Whittington said. "We have tons of offensive talent, but once we sit on defense, we're a great team. It's hard for people to beat us when our defense is on, so that's what we work for every game."
Leading MT in the scoring column was Aislynn Hayes with a career-high 24 points, her fifth 20-point outing of the season. She hit 12 of 16 free throws and also grabbed six rebounds.
Sutton had 16 points, and Whittington added 11 points and three blocks off the bench. Senior Charity Savage scored five points with 12 rebounds, three assists, four blocks and three steals.
Also filling the stat sheet was sophomore Anastasia Hayes, who, like her sister, had a big night from the charity stripe. She had 13 points, seven of them coming from the free-throw line, where she only missed once.
Keeping that good mojo going from the stripe will be a big key for Insell's bunch. They'll be back in action Saturday at home against UTSA.
"We've got to get more consistent," Insell said. "We can't come in here and lay down Saturday, because [UTSA] has a good basketball team."
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
