Education Day, Lady Raiders Return to the Murphy Center Thursday

Thursday, December 1

Murfreesboro, TN

11 AM

Middle Tennessee

Tennessee Tech

11/30/2022 4:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Game Notes (PDF)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.— Middle Tennessee women's basketball is back at home for Education Day as the Lady Raiders tip off against Tennessee Tech Thursday at 11 a.m. inside the Murphy Center

The game will air on ESPN+ and the Blue Raider Network for those who aren't able to attend.

Like Middle Tennessee, Tennessee Tech was predicted to win its conference before the season. Thursday's matchup is the 84th game between the two programs dating back to 1976.

LAST TIME OUT

Middle Tennessee wrapped up its weekend at the Las Vegas Invitational with a balanced 79-54 win over Missouri State Saturday inside the Mirage.

After trailing momentarily inside the eight minute mark in the first quarter, the Lady Raiders (3-2) controlled the game the rest of the way through, leading by as many as 29 in the fourth quarter. Middle Tennessee led by double digits for the entire second half and led by at least 20 points in the final frame.

Savannah Wheeler scored a season-high 24 points and dished five assists. The two Courtney's rounded out the double figure scorers. Courtney Whitson finished with a double-double, scoring 13 points along with 10 rebounds and three assists. Courtney Blakely recorded a season-high 10 points, four rebounds and three steals off the bench.

Middle Tennessee held the advantage on the boards (39-37) and outscored Missouri State 30-20 in the paint.

ON THE COURT

Stat Leaders:
Points - Savannah Wheeler (17.2 PPG)
Rebounds - Courtney Whitson (8.2 RPG)
Assists - Savannah Wheeler (3.8 APG)
Steals - T-Jalynn Gregory and Kseniya Malashka (2.6 SPG)

LADY RAIDER NOTES

Middle Tennessee leads all of Conference USA and ranks 39th in the nation with a 17.8 scoring margin. In their three wins, the Lady Raiders are averaging 31.7 point differential, including a 52-point stomping of Southern Illinois Nov. 12. The win margin in Carbondale was tied for the eighth largest in Lady Raider history.
After consecutive games with 10-plus rebounds, including 14 vs. Texas Tech Nov. 25, Courtney Whitson (653 career rebounds) is 17th all-time on the Lady Raider career boards list and is 13 away from moving into 12th place.
Whitson is two 3-pointers away from cracking the top 10 in 3-pointers made and ranks eighth all time in attempts beyond the arc with 527.
Middle Tennessee is 7-1 in Education Day games played at the Glass House since the event started in 2012.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES

Tennessee Tech's last appearance on the floor was Nov. 20, as the Golden Eagles fell at Northern Kentucky, 53-75. TTU fell at Cincinnati, 57-68 Nov. 10 in between wins vs. Ball State Nov. 7 and Samford Nov. 14.
Sitting inside the top 25 nationally in 3-point percentage defense, the Golden Eagles are holding opponents to 23.2% from the field.
On the flip side, Maaliya Owens leads the OVC in both 3-point percentage (42.3%) and 3-pointers per game (2.2). Owens, overall, is averaging 11.6 points per game and is tied for the team lead in blocks with 12.
The Golden Eagles were named the preseason favorites to win the OVC after a 21-win season in 2021-22.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

Middle Tennessee welcomes over 3,400 Murfreesboro City Schools students to the Murphy Center for its annual Education Day.