Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, January 4
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
5:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
-95,11 CUSA
83
vs
59
Charlotte
-103,11 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Charlotte
13
12
14
20
59
Middle Tennessee
23
14
22
24
83
Team Stats
CHAR
MT
FG%
.387
.500
3FG%
.368
.421
FT%
.444
.643
RB
40
38
TO
19
8
STL
4
13
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Josh Padilla/MT Athletic Communications
Lady Raiders secure win vs. Charlotte
1/4/2020 7:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Stout defense against one of Conference USA's best-shooting teams gave Middle Tennessee its first win of the new year Saturday.
Playing host to the Charlotte 49ers (10-3, 1-1), the Lady Raiders (9-5, 1-1) put a clamp on the rim in their 83-59 victory. They've now won all eight games in the series all-time.
"We just had a different attitude coming out of [Thursday's loss to Old Dominion]," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Insell said. "The one thing that we did was flush that loss and start bringing energy into practice. Yesterday and this morning [at practice] I knew we were going to have a pretty good game tonight."
Charlotte went into the matchup second in C-USA with a season field goal percentage of 42.8 percent, but MT wouldn't let the road team sniff that number.
The 49ers made just one of their first nine shots and didn't get much better from there, finishing the night making 24 of 62 (38.7 percent). They also committed 19 turnovers — 13 of them Lady Raider steals — which led to 17 fastbreak points on the other end.
It was the fourth time this year MT held an opponent under 60 points.
"We really concentrated on bringing energy," Insell said. "We were able to get some 50-50 balls … and we were able to turn them into scores. That's frustrating for a team, especially when you're trying to get back into a game."
Sophomore Anastasia Hayes was a defensive stalwart, racking up a career-high five steals.
She was active from the opening tip on both ends of the floor, scoring nine points in the first quarter — including her 10th made 3-pointer of the season — while nabbing three steals. She also assisted on two baskets.
Hayes finished with 21 points on 8 of 17 shooting, five rebounds and five assists.
"We didn't have a good game Thursday, so we wanted to forget it," she said. "We wanted to make it up today, and I feel like we did. I'm proud of us."
After Hayes helped lead Middle Tennessee to a 23-13 lead at the end of the first quarter, her fellow backcourt teammates took over the reins.
Freshman Aislynn Hayes scored seven of her 14 points in the second quarter, then sophomore Taylor Sutton added seven of her 18 in the third quarter as MT's lead stretched over 20.
The younger Hayes finished with eight rebounds and three steals and hit five of her nine shots, and Sutton went 7 of 16 from the floor, including three made 3-pointers.
"I'm ecstatic about how our three starting guards are playing," Insell said. "We're very happy … and I like coaching them. It keeps me in the game when I have a group like this I can coach."
Charity Savage and Alexis Whittington also entered double-figure scoring for the Lady Raiders, making it the first time since Nov. 11, 2018 that five players for MT were in double figures in the same game. Savage had 15 to go with three steals and Whittington added 11 points — eight in the fourth quarter — and five rebounds.
Middle Tennessee will hit the road for two games next week, the first a Thursday matchup at Marshall and the second Saturday at rival WKU.
The matchup with the Thundering Herd on Thursday will be the Lady Raiders' first game outside of the Nashville Metropolitan area since they played Arizona State in Estero, Fla., in the Gulf Coast Showcase on Dec. 1.
"We just have to stay focused in our scout, stay in the gym and get our shots up and be totally dialed into the coaches and what they have to tell us in our game plan," Sutton said.
Playing host to the Charlotte 49ers (10-3, 1-1), the Lady Raiders (9-5, 1-1) put a clamp on the rim in their 83-59 victory. They've now won all eight games in the series all-time.
"We just had a different attitude coming out of [Thursday's loss to Old Dominion]," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Insell said. "The one thing that we did was flush that loss and start bringing energy into practice. Yesterday and this morning [at practice] I knew we were going to have a pretty good game tonight."
Charlotte went into the matchup second in C-USA with a season field goal percentage of 42.8 percent, but MT wouldn't let the road team sniff that number.
The 49ers made just one of their first nine shots and didn't get much better from there, finishing the night making 24 of 62 (38.7 percent). They also committed 19 turnovers — 13 of them Lady Raider steals — which led to 17 fastbreak points on the other end.
It was the fourth time this year MT held an opponent under 60 points.
"We really concentrated on bringing energy," Insell said. "We were able to get some 50-50 balls … and we were able to turn them into scores. That's frustrating for a team, especially when you're trying to get back into a game."
Sophomore Anastasia Hayes was a defensive stalwart, racking up a career-high five steals.
She was active from the opening tip on both ends of the floor, scoring nine points in the first quarter — including her 10th made 3-pointer of the season — while nabbing three steals. She also assisted on two baskets.
Hayes finished with 21 points on 8 of 17 shooting, five rebounds and five assists.
"We didn't have a good game Thursday, so we wanted to forget it," she said. "We wanted to make it up today, and I feel like we did. I'm proud of us."
After Hayes helped lead Middle Tennessee to a 23-13 lead at the end of the first quarter, her fellow backcourt teammates took over the reins.
Freshman Aislynn Hayes scored seven of her 14 points in the second quarter, then sophomore Taylor Sutton added seven of her 18 in the third quarter as MT's lead stretched over 20.
The younger Hayes finished with eight rebounds and three steals and hit five of her nine shots, and Sutton went 7 of 16 from the floor, including three made 3-pointers.
"I'm ecstatic about how our three starting guards are playing," Insell said. "We're very happy … and I like coaching them. It keeps me in the game when I have a group like this I can coach."
Charity Savage and Alexis Whittington also entered double-figure scoring for the Lady Raiders, making it the first time since Nov. 11, 2018 that five players for MT were in double figures in the same game. Savage had 15 to go with three steals and Whittington added 11 points — eight in the fourth quarter — and five rebounds.
Middle Tennessee will hit the road for two games next week, the first a Thursday matchup at Marshall and the second Saturday at rival WKU.
The matchup with the Thundering Herd on Thursday will be the Lady Raiders' first game outside of the Nashville Metropolitan area since they played Arizona State in Estero, Fla., in the Gulf Coast Showcase on Dec. 1.
"We just have to stay focused in our scout, stay in the gym and get our shots up and be totally dialed into the coaches and what they have to tell us in our game plan," Sutton said.
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
