Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, March 4
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
-137,114 CUSA
49
vs
72
Marshall
-89,78 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Marshall
20
23
16
13
72
Middle Tennessee
11
14
10
14
49
Tough shooting night sinks Lady Raiders vs. Marshall
3/4/2021 8:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MT seeking East Division title Friday
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee couldn't find the key to unlocking the lid on the rim Thursday at home.
With a Conference USA East Division championship a win away, the Lady Raiders (13-6, 11-4) welcomed Marshall (8-9, 7-8) to the Murphy Center and succumbed to a bad shooting night, losing 72-49.
They'll have one more chance to clinch the East when the two teams close out the regular season Friday. MT would also win the division if second-place Charlotte loses either of its remaining two games against Florida Atlantic.
"We didn't get into our offense and share the ball well, and this is what happens," Lady Raiders head coach Rick Insell said. "They played hard … and we have to regroup tomorrow and have to get ready to go to the tournament."
Middle Tennessee went into the game leading C-USA with 76.8 points per game, while Marshall sported the third-best scoring defense, giving up 64 per night.
The Thundering Herd defense proved to be up to the task of slowing the Lady Raiders down. The blue and white finished just 13-of-57 from the field (22.8 percent), including 3-of-25 from 3-point range (12 percent), and turned the ball over 15 times.
Insell said the poor offensive showing was disappointing considering the way his team practiced leading up to the game.
"I thought we had three really good practices this week, and we came out and didn't play good at all," he said. "On one end we didn't do a good job, then on the other end we didn't do a good job. You aren't going to win many games doing that."
The two teams got out to an even start through the first half of the first quarter, but then it was all Herd from there.
After Courtney Whitson hit a 3-pointer for MT to tie the score at eight, Marshall rattled off a 20-3 run to build a double-digit lead that never got back under 10.
"I just feel like nothing was landing for us," redshirt junior Rellah Boothe said. "Tonight just wasn't our night. … We just didn't play as a team, honestly."
Anastasia Hayes, who went into the game leading the nation with 27.9 points per game, led Middle Tennessee with 17 points on 3-of-16 shooting. She hit 11-of-15 free throws and had five rebounds and four steals.
Deja Cage was also in double-figure scoring with 10 points, and Rellah Boothe finished with six points in nine minutes off the bench.
Cage and Boothe will play their final games at the Murphy Center Friday. The Lady Raiders and Thundering Herd will tip off at 6 p.m.
"That will be breathtaking … not just for myself, but for coach. He's been here so much for all of us," Boothe said. "I'm definitely looking forward to tomorrow."
With a Conference USA East Division championship a win away, the Lady Raiders (13-6, 11-4) welcomed Marshall (8-9, 7-8) to the Murphy Center and succumbed to a bad shooting night, losing 72-49.
They'll have one more chance to clinch the East when the two teams close out the regular season Friday. MT would also win the division if second-place Charlotte loses either of its remaining two games against Florida Atlantic.
"We didn't get into our offense and share the ball well, and this is what happens," Lady Raiders head coach Rick Insell said. "They played hard … and we have to regroup tomorrow and have to get ready to go to the tournament."
Middle Tennessee went into the game leading C-USA with 76.8 points per game, while Marshall sported the third-best scoring defense, giving up 64 per night.
The Thundering Herd defense proved to be up to the task of slowing the Lady Raiders down. The blue and white finished just 13-of-57 from the field (22.8 percent), including 3-of-25 from 3-point range (12 percent), and turned the ball over 15 times.
Insell said the poor offensive showing was disappointing considering the way his team practiced leading up to the game.
"I thought we had three really good practices this week, and we came out and didn't play good at all," he said. "On one end we didn't do a good job, then on the other end we didn't do a good job. You aren't going to win many games doing that."
The two teams got out to an even start through the first half of the first quarter, but then it was all Herd from there.
After Courtney Whitson hit a 3-pointer for MT to tie the score at eight, Marshall rattled off a 20-3 run to build a double-digit lead that never got back under 10.
"I just feel like nothing was landing for us," redshirt junior Rellah Boothe said. "Tonight just wasn't our night. … We just didn't play as a team, honestly."
Anastasia Hayes, who went into the game leading the nation with 27.9 points per game, led Middle Tennessee with 17 points on 3-of-16 shooting. She hit 11-of-15 free throws and had five rebounds and four steals.
Deja Cage was also in double-figure scoring with 10 points, and Rellah Boothe finished with six points in nine minutes off the bench.
Cage and Boothe will play their final games at the Murphy Center Friday. The Lady Raiders and Thundering Herd will tip off at 6 p.m.
"That will be breathtaking … not just for myself, but for coach. He's been here so much for all of us," Boothe said. "I'm definitely looking forward to tomorrow."
Team Stats
MARSH
MT
FG%
.438
.228
3FG%
.261
.120
FT%
.714
.667
RB
44
40
TO
14
15
STL
7
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
11
Pts
6
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
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/ Women's Basketball
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