Lady Raiders drop tough decision at TCU

Sunday, December 13

Fort Worth, TX

1:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

-03,00 CUSA

TCU

4-1,0-1Big 12

Middle Tennessee

TCU

12/13/2020 3:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Game Book Cumulative Stats

Anastasia Hayes just misses triple-double

By: @MTAthletics

FORT WORTH, Texas – Middle Tennessee put forth another solid effort but suffered a tough 83-77 loss at TCU Sunday afternoon.

Trailing 79-77 in the closing seconds, the Lady Raiders (0-3) went for the win with Aislynn Hayes' firing a 3-pointer from the left wing but her attempt was just off the mark with seven seconds remaining.

TCU (4-1) converted a pair of free throws and scored on a breakaway layup at the buzzer to account for the final points of the game.

"I thought we prepared well for this game and we had a shot at the end against a good TCU team," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "Our young ladies played well and we had good, balanced scoring with four players in double figures and another with nine. We are getting there but just not as fast as we would like."

The game was tightly contested throughout and Middle Tennessee was in position for the road win after Hayes nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game, 72-72, with 4:11 remaining. After TCU connected for a 3-pointer with 2:54 remaining, Anastasia Hayes sliced through the lane and connected for a driving layup and was fouled. She completed the three-point play to even the score 75-75 with 2:01 remaining.

TCU went back in front 77-75 on its next possession but Anastasia Hayes quickly tied the score once again when she knocked down a basket with 28 seconds remaining; however, the comeback bid was foiled in the final seconds.

Anastasia Hayes had another dynamic performance, falling two assists shy of a triple-double. The stellar guard finished with 28 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and eight assists. Hayes has scored 25-plus in all three games this season and she has scored 24-plus in seven straight games dating back to last season.

"Anastasia had an outstanding game," Insell said. "She almost had a triple-double which shows you are impacting the game in many ways. She did a great job of playmaking and getting others involved today and she was very active on the boards."

Aislynn Hayes added 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Alexis Whittington netted 13 points and four rebounds. Rellah Boothe had her best game of the season with 10 points and five rebounds. Courtney Whitson just missed double figures with nine points.

Freshman post Ksyusha Kozlova made her first career start at TCU.

Middle Tennessee did another solid job in the rebounding category, winning the battle of the boards, 43-35, including a whopping 18 offensive rebounds. Anastasia Hayes' 14 caroms were a career high. The Lady Raiders also had their best shooting night of the season, connecting on 41 percent (28-of-69) from the field.

The Lady Raiders return to action when they play host to Sun Belt Conference foe Troy Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Fans are not allowed inside Murphy Center for the final two non-conference games in December.