Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Wednesday, November 16
Murfreesboro, TN
6 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
vs
Belmont
Photo by: Maya Lewis/MT Athletic Communications
Home Opener, In-State Matchup Up Next For Lady Raiders
11/15/2022 5:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee women's basketball is set to face Belmont in its home opener Wednesday at the Murphy Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
Tickets are available at goblueraiders.com/tickets. Fans who can't make it to the game can follow along on ESPN+ and the Blue Raider Network. Wednesday night's promotional giveaway is a special 3-point Lady Raider basketball poster.
Coming off a 52-point win at Southern Illinois, the Lady Raiders (1-1) host the Bruins (1-1) in a key in-state non-conference matchup.
Last Time Out
Six Lady Raiders scored in double figures in Middle Tennessee's 89-38 route of Southern Illinois Saturday.
The Blue Raiders (1-1) trailed the Salukis (0-1) for just 50 seconds and held the advantage in nearly every category. MTSU closed the first quarter on a 19-3 run to give the Lady Raiders a 26-9 lead. Coming out of the locker room in the third quarter, the Lady Raider dominance continued as MTSU shot 11-for-14 (.786) from the field for 27 points. Defensively, MTSU held SIU to just five points in the frame to stretch the lead to 74-22.
The biggest lead of the night came with the Blue Raiders leading 82-23 at the 5:28 mark in the 4th quarter.
Kseniya Malashka led all scorers with 14 points in her second start as a Blue Raider. Savannah Wheeler scored 13 points, dished six assists and pulled down three rebounds. Courtney Whitson recorded 12 points and seven boards while Jalynn Gregory finished with 13 points, three rebounds and two assists. Anastasiia Boldyreva rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points and five rebounds.
On The Court
STAT LEADERS:
Points - Jalynn Gregory (16.5/game)
Rebounds - Kseniya Malashka (5.0/game)
Assists - Savannah Wheeler (11)
Steals - Kseniya Malashka (8)
Lady Raider Notes
• Eighty-seven percent of the scoring from 2021-22 returns for a Lady Raider team that is expected to be tested with a tough non-conference slate to begin the season. Seven of the nine teams on the list played in the postseason last March. Four of the nine teams won their respective conference championships.
• With a combined 31 steals in the opening two games of the season, MTSU ranks first in C-USA in steals per game and is 15th in the country. Including steals, the Lady Raiders are forcing 25 turnovers per game, which is good enough for third in the conference and 30th nationally.
• MTSU has enjoyed great home success under Rick Insell. The Lady Raiders are 209-43 at the Murphy Center under Insell. MTSU is 484-128 all-time at Murphy Center for a 79 percent winning ledger.
• Courtney Whitson is in her fourth season as a Lady Raider and has scored 929 career points, looking to become the 32nd member of the program's 1,000-point club.
Breaking Down Belmont
• Receiving seven votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll, Belmont is 1-1 on the season after beating Chattanooga 56-54 and falling by five to No. 7/5 Louisville. Wednesday's game inside the Glass House will be Belmont's first road game of the season.
• The preseason favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference in the program's first season in the league is led by Destinee Wells. After earning a spot on several preseason national award watchlists and was the preseason MVC player of the year, Wells has put up 20 points in both games this season. Tuti Jones is averaging 13 points per game and has recorded a combined five assists and five steals to start the campaign.
• Bart Brooks's six seasons leading Belmont has consisted of four OVC Championship titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances.
Tickets are available at goblueraiders.com/tickets. Fans who can't make it to the game can follow along on ESPN+ and the Blue Raider Network. Wednesday night's promotional giveaway is a special 3-point Lady Raider basketball poster.
Coming off a 52-point win at Southern Illinois, the Lady Raiders (1-1) host the Bruins (1-1) in a key in-state non-conference matchup.
Last Time Out
Six Lady Raiders scored in double figures in Middle Tennessee's 89-38 route of Southern Illinois Saturday.
The Blue Raiders (1-1) trailed the Salukis (0-1) for just 50 seconds and held the advantage in nearly every category. MTSU closed the first quarter on a 19-3 run to give the Lady Raiders a 26-9 lead. Coming out of the locker room in the third quarter, the Lady Raider dominance continued as MTSU shot 11-for-14 (.786) from the field for 27 points. Defensively, MTSU held SIU to just five points in the frame to stretch the lead to 74-22.
The biggest lead of the night came with the Blue Raiders leading 82-23 at the 5:28 mark in the 4th quarter.
Kseniya Malashka led all scorers with 14 points in her second start as a Blue Raider. Savannah Wheeler scored 13 points, dished six assists and pulled down three rebounds. Courtney Whitson recorded 12 points and seven boards while Jalynn Gregory finished with 13 points, three rebounds and two assists. Anastasiia Boldyreva rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points and five rebounds.
On The Court
STAT LEADERS:
Points - Jalynn Gregory (16.5/game)
Rebounds - Kseniya Malashka (5.0/game)
Assists - Savannah Wheeler (11)
Steals - Kseniya Malashka (8)
Lady Raider Notes
• Eighty-seven percent of the scoring from 2021-22 returns for a Lady Raider team that is expected to be tested with a tough non-conference slate to begin the season. Seven of the nine teams on the list played in the postseason last March. Four of the nine teams won their respective conference championships.
• With a combined 31 steals in the opening two games of the season, MTSU ranks first in C-USA in steals per game and is 15th in the country. Including steals, the Lady Raiders are forcing 25 turnovers per game, which is good enough for third in the conference and 30th nationally.
• MTSU has enjoyed great home success under Rick Insell. The Lady Raiders are 209-43 at the Murphy Center under Insell. MTSU is 484-128 all-time at Murphy Center for a 79 percent winning ledger.
• Courtney Whitson is in her fourth season as a Lady Raider and has scored 929 career points, looking to become the 32nd member of the program's 1,000-point club.
Breaking Down Belmont
• Receiving seven votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll, Belmont is 1-1 on the season after beating Chattanooga 56-54 and falling by five to No. 7/5 Louisville. Wednesday's game inside the Glass House will be Belmont's first road game of the season.
• The preseason favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference in the program's first season in the league is led by Destinee Wells. After earning a spot on several preseason national award watchlists and was the preseason MVC player of the year, Wells has put up 20 points in both games this season. Tuti Jones is averaging 13 points per game and has recorded a combined five assists and five steals to start the campaign.
• Bart Brooks's six seasons leading Belmont has consisted of four OVC Championship titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball2025 MTSU Basketball tickets on sale now - October 1st
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