Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Thursday, February 6
Denton, TX
7:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
-167,83 CUSA
80
at
60
North Texas
-913,37 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Middle Tenn.
13
26
16
25
80
North Texas
24
19
13
4
60
Team Stats
MTSU
UNT
FG%
.463
.410
3FG%
.364
.250
FT%
.833
.400
RB
42
38
TO
10
14
STL
9
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
33
FGM
14
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballHayes' 33-point outburst sparks fourth-straight win
2/6/2020 9:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Lady Raiders rally past North Texas, 80-60
DENTON, Texas – Anastasia Hayes came back with a vengeance after missing her only game as a Lady Raider following a tooth extraction last Friday.
Hayes turned in a career-best effort, pouring in 33 points to rally Middle Tennessee (16-7, 8-3) from a 13-point, first-quarter deficit in an 80-60 win at North Texas Thursday. It was the fourth straight win for Middle Tennessee, which has also won six of seven.
The 33 points are the most by a Lady Raider since A'Queen Hayes poured in 34 against UAB in the C-USA semifinals last March.
While Hayes' dynamic performance was instrumental in the enthralling comeback, freshman Courtney Whitson also was a vital cog as she made her presence known at the most opportune time.
Whitson scored eight of her 13 at the outset of the fourth quarter on 3-of-3 shooting to help separate the Lady Raiders, who trailed North Texas, 56-55, at the end of three frames.
Explosive offense and that patented Lady Raider defense highlighted one of the best 10-minute stretches of the season for Middle Tennessee, which outscored the Mean Green 25-4 in the final quarter to turn a tight contest into a runaway.
Whitson sparked a 16-0 run at the outset of the quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers to start the fourth and provided a 61-56 lead. Hayes followed with two free throws before Whitson added a driving layup to create separation.
Hayes led four players in double figures with her eye-popping performance that included a career-best 14 field goals. She added four steals.
Taylor Sutton finished with another strong all-around performance that featured 14 points and four rebounds. It is the seventh straight game for Sutton in double figures, extending the longest such streak of her young career.
Freshmen phenoms Aislynn Hayes and Whitson each scored 13 in exceptional performances. Aislynn Hayes, the reigning USBWA National Freshman of the Week, added seven rebounds, six assists and two steals in another stat-sheet stuffing performance. Whitson was equally impressive with five rebounds and two assists to go with her 13-point effort. The freshmen duo combined for 6-of-9 shooting beyond the arc.
Charity Savage turned in another solid effort with seven points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocked shots, while Alexis Whittington came up big with eight rebounds to tie her career high. Whittington also had three assists.
"This was a big road win for us and a great team win," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "To be down 13 on the road against a very good defensive team in North Texas and turn it around like we did showed a lot of grit and determination by our young ladies. That fourth quarter was as good of a 10-minute stretch as I have seen us have at Middle Tennessee in a while. Very, very impressive."
The Lady Raiders dug themselves a big hole early and trailed 24-11 with 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter before Anastasia Hayes' short jumper stopped the Mean Green run at the end of the stanza.
Middle Tennessee's talented guard trio of Aislynn Hayes, Anastasia Hayes and Taylor Sutton combined for 22 of the team's 26 second-quarter points as the Lady Raiders clawed to within 43-39 at intermission.
After a nip-and-tuck third quarter, Middle Tennessee put on a fourth-quarter clinic to pull away and secure the big road win.
The Lady Raiders won the rebounding battle, 42-38, improving to 11-2 win having more caroms than the opposition. Middle Tennessee also had 17 assists – its second-highest total of the season. The Lady Raiders improved to 72-2 when scoring 80-plus under Insell.
Middle Tennessee will face defending C-USA champion Rice in a rematch of last year's league championship game Saturday. Tipoff in Houston is 2 p.m.
Hayes turned in a career-best effort, pouring in 33 points to rally Middle Tennessee (16-7, 8-3) from a 13-point, first-quarter deficit in an 80-60 win at North Texas Thursday. It was the fourth straight win for Middle Tennessee, which has also won six of seven.
The 33 points are the most by a Lady Raider since A'Queen Hayes poured in 34 against UAB in the C-USA semifinals last March.
While Hayes' dynamic performance was instrumental in the enthralling comeback, freshman Courtney Whitson also was a vital cog as she made her presence known at the most opportune time.
Whitson scored eight of her 13 at the outset of the fourth quarter on 3-of-3 shooting to help separate the Lady Raiders, who trailed North Texas, 56-55, at the end of three frames.
Explosive offense and that patented Lady Raider defense highlighted one of the best 10-minute stretches of the season for Middle Tennessee, which outscored the Mean Green 25-4 in the final quarter to turn a tight contest into a runaway.
Whitson sparked a 16-0 run at the outset of the quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers to start the fourth and provided a 61-56 lead. Hayes followed with two free throws before Whitson added a driving layup to create separation.
Hayes led four players in double figures with her eye-popping performance that included a career-best 14 field goals. She added four steals.
Taylor Sutton finished with another strong all-around performance that featured 14 points and four rebounds. It is the seventh straight game for Sutton in double figures, extending the longest such streak of her young career.
Freshmen phenoms Aislynn Hayes and Whitson each scored 13 in exceptional performances. Aislynn Hayes, the reigning USBWA National Freshman of the Week, added seven rebounds, six assists and two steals in another stat-sheet stuffing performance. Whitson was equally impressive with five rebounds and two assists to go with her 13-point effort. The freshmen duo combined for 6-of-9 shooting beyond the arc.
Charity Savage turned in another solid effort with seven points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocked shots, while Alexis Whittington came up big with eight rebounds to tie her career high. Whittington also had three assists.
"This was a big road win for us and a great team win," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "To be down 13 on the road against a very good defensive team in North Texas and turn it around like we did showed a lot of grit and determination by our young ladies. That fourth quarter was as good of a 10-minute stretch as I have seen us have at Middle Tennessee in a while. Very, very impressive."
The Lady Raiders dug themselves a big hole early and trailed 24-11 with 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter before Anastasia Hayes' short jumper stopped the Mean Green run at the end of the stanza.
Middle Tennessee's talented guard trio of Aislynn Hayes, Anastasia Hayes and Taylor Sutton combined for 22 of the team's 26 second-quarter points as the Lady Raiders clawed to within 43-39 at intermission.
After a nip-and-tuck third quarter, Middle Tennessee put on a fourth-quarter clinic to pull away and secure the big road win.
The Lady Raiders won the rebounding battle, 42-38, improving to 11-2 win having more caroms than the opposition. Middle Tennessee also had 17 assists – its second-highest total of the season. The Lady Raiders improved to 72-2 when scoring 80-plus under Insell.
Middle Tennessee will face defending C-USA champion Rice in a rematch of last year's league championship game Saturday. Tipoff in Houston is 2 p.m.
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
