Lady Raiders topple rival WKU, 75-65

Friday, January 22

Bowling Green, KY

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

-84,61 CUSA

WKU

-38,23 CUSA

Middle Tenn.

Western Ky.

1/22/2021 8:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Game Book Cumulative Stats C USA Stats

By: MT Athletic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Middle Tennessee put together one of its most complete games of the season to topple rival WKU, 75-65, and win the opening game of a two-game series at Diddle Arena Friday night.

The Lady Raiders (8-4, 6-1) were solid in every aspect as they ended a six-game losing streak inside Diddle Arena and won consecutive games against the Lady Toppers (3-8, 2-3) for the first time since 2013.

"Great win for our young ladies," Lady Raiders Head Coach Rick Insell said. "We have a great deal of respect for WKU and the tradition here so it's always big to beat them, especially at Diddle Arena where they are always tough."

Middle Tennessee was tough Friday as they won the battle of the boards, 39-28, had 16 assists on 28 field goals and held WKU without a field goal in the decisive second quarter.

Anastasia Hayes led the attack with 25 points, eight assists and three steals. Hayes, the nation's second-leading scorer, has scored 22-plus in all 12 games this season and 16 straight dating back to last season. She is the only player in the nation with 20-plus points in 10 or more games this season.

Deja Cage added 12 points on the strength of three 3-pointers. The Lady Raiders received huge contributions from freshman center Ksyusha Kozlova and welcomed the return of junior Rellah Boothe. Kozlova registered career highs for points (8) and rebounds (8) and shot 4-of-7 from the field. Boothe added seven points and six rebounds in just 12 minutes of action.

Alexis Whittington added nine points, three assists and three steals, Aislynn Hayes finished with eight points and three rebounds and Courtney Whitson totaled six points and eight rebounds.

Middle Tennessee trailed 16-13 after the first quarter but used a 21-4 explosion in the second quarter to take control by halftime.

As expected, WKU made its run in the second half; however, Middle Tennessee always had an answer. The most notable was provided by Anastasia Hayes whose heroics in the final two minutes of the third quarter essentially sealed the deal.

WKU had closed to within 48-44 when Anastasia Hayes ignited a 7-0 run. It started with two free throws from the nation's leader in free throw attempts. She added an old-fashioned, three-point play at the 1:23 mark, then collected a steal and knocked down a running eight-footer with 54 seconds remaining to push the advantage back to double digits, 55-54.

"That was a huge answer," Insell said. "We knew WKU would make a run and they did. Good teams do that. I was proud of the way our team buckled down under that pressure, continued to play and was able to get some stops. Anastasia had a big game but that stretch late in the third quarter was a difference maker."

The second quarter was a huge turning point as Middle Tennessee used its patented team defense, solid rebounding and team offense to turn a three-point, first-quarter deficit into a 34-20 halftime lead.

The Lady Raiders held WKU without a field goal in the second quarter as the Lady Toppers were 0-of-8 from the field, including 0-of-6 from beyond the arc. WKU scored all four of its second quarter points at the charity stripe.

Middle Tennessee, on the other hand, got up 20 shots in the frame, connecting on nine of them. Anastasia Hayes was dynamite with seven of her 13 in the second stanza, along with six assists. Kozlova was also exceptional with six points on 3-of-3 shooting and four rebounds in the decisive period.

The two teams will battle again Saturday at 6 p.m. at Diddle Arena in a game televised on ESPN+.