Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Thursday, December 1
Murfreesboro, TN
11 AM
Middle Tennessee
-42,00 CUSA
83
vs
45
Tennessee Tech
3-3,0-0OVC
1
2
3
4
F
Tennessee Tech
19
8
11
7
45
Middle Tenn.
18
21
20
24
83
Team Stats
TNTech
MTSU
FG%
.340
.510
3FG%
.286
.313
FT%
.438
.929
RB
23
38
TO
17
13
STL
5
11
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
16
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
10
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Lady Raiders soar past Golden Eagles on Education Day
12/1/2022 2:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Middle Tennessee records the largest win against Tennessee Tech in program history
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Middle Tennessee women's basketball team dominated defensively, twice holding Tennessee Tech under 10 points in a quarter on Thursday morning, as the Lady Raiders soared past the Golden Eagles 83-45 at the Murphy Center.
It was the largest win ever for MTSU against Tennessee Tech in 84 games in the series against the former OVC rival.
MTSU (4-2) was dominant in the paint, outscoring Tennessee Tech (3-3) 38 to 14 inside to set the tone offensively in the route. The Lady Raiders used their superior size to their advantage, outrebounding the Golden Eagles 38 to 23 in the Glass House, scoring nine second chance points on the offensive glass. Turnovers were also key, as MTSU took advantage of 17 TTU turnovers (11 on MTSU steals) to score 24 points off of turnovers.
After trailing by one at the end of the first quarter, the Lady Raiders took a 39-27 lead into the locker room at halftime, buoyed by a second quarter where MTSU short 9-for-11 from the field and held the Golden Eagles to just eight points in the frame. Middle Tennessee was a perfect 15-for-15 from the foul line in the game's first 20 minutes.
Five Lady Raiders finished the game with at least 10 points, led by Kseniya Malashka, who was dominant at forward, shooting 7-for-9 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Savannah Wheeler was close behind with 16 points, 10 of her points come at the charity stripe.
By the Numbers
26-for-28: The Lady Raiders free throw makes and attempts on Thursday. Until Anastasiia Boldyreva missed her final two free throws of the game, MTSU made 26 in row, nearly tying a school record for team free throw percentage.
34: Points in the paint for Middle Tennessee. On a morning where outside shooting was hard to come by for both teams, the Lady Raiders and Golden Eagles combined to shoot 11-for-37 beyond the arc, MTSU's post advantage was key.
4: Number of steals for Courtney Blakely, who stepped into the starting lineup for the injured Alexis Whittington and was crucial in sparking the Lady Raiders in the second quarter. Six of her 11 points on Thursday came off of Golden Eagle turnovers.
Blue Raider Notes
Thoughts from Head Coach Rick Insell
"We have been doing an average job at the free throw line. The more you talk about free throws guys, the more it gets in their head. You just don't talk about it. You go to practice, you work on it, you try to set up some type of game type situation. That's one of the toughest things to do in a practice, is to set up a game type situation for free throws.
"And you know, that just comes down to mental toughness. You've just got to get up there. If you're a good free throw shooter, you've got to get you rhythm, you've got to the same thing every time. Approach, alignment, same way every time. When you do that, you're going to increase your percentages shooting free throws."
Player's Perspective: Kseniya Malashka
"For me, it was a special game. Because I love playing for kids. When I was back home, I used to go to every game when the Club team was playing and that's how I fell in love with basketball.
"So for me, it was important to show up for those kids, because I know that some of them are looking at us as role models, not just in basketball but in life, how we carry ourselves to the court, how our attitude is. Usually my body language is kind of low, but today I gave it my all."
Up Next
The Lady Raiders stay at the Glass House over the weekend for a scintillating Top 25 matchup with No. 18 Lousiville on Sunday, December 4. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Blue Raider Radio Network
Follow the Lady Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball on social media on Facebook (/MTSUWBB), Twitter (@MT_WBB) and Instagram (@mt_wbb).
It was the largest win ever for MTSU against Tennessee Tech in 84 games in the series against the former OVC rival.
MTSU (4-2) was dominant in the paint, outscoring Tennessee Tech (3-3) 38 to 14 inside to set the tone offensively in the route. The Lady Raiders used their superior size to their advantage, outrebounding the Golden Eagles 38 to 23 in the Glass House, scoring nine second chance points on the offensive glass. Turnovers were also key, as MTSU took advantage of 17 TTU turnovers (11 on MTSU steals) to score 24 points off of turnovers.
After trailing by one at the end of the first quarter, the Lady Raiders took a 39-27 lead into the locker room at halftime, buoyed by a second quarter where MTSU short 9-for-11 from the field and held the Golden Eagles to just eight points in the frame. Middle Tennessee was a perfect 15-for-15 from the foul line in the game's first 20 minutes.
Five Lady Raiders finished the game with at least 10 points, led by Kseniya Malashka, who was dominant at forward, shooting 7-for-9 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Savannah Wheeler was close behind with 16 points, 10 of her points come at the charity stripe.
By the Numbers
26-for-28: The Lady Raiders free throw makes and attempts on Thursday. Until Anastasiia Boldyreva missed her final two free throws of the game, MTSU made 26 in row, nearly tying a school record for team free throw percentage.
34: Points in the paint for Middle Tennessee. On a morning where outside shooting was hard to come by for both teams, the Lady Raiders and Golden Eagles combined to shoot 11-for-37 beyond the arc, MTSU's post advantage was key.
4: Number of steals for Courtney Blakely, who stepped into the starting lineup for the injured Alexis Whittington and was crucial in sparking the Lady Raiders in the second quarter. Six of her 11 points on Thursday came off of Golden Eagle turnovers.
Blue Raider Notes
- Middle Tennessee has won 16 straight regular season home games.
- The Lady Raiders have won by at least 18 points in all four of their wins this season for an average margin of victory of 33.3.
- MTSU improves to 8-1 in Education Day games at the Murphy Center.
- Courtney Blakely set a new career high in steals with four and a season high in assists with five.
- Middle Tennessee has outscored every opponent in the paint this season after a 38-14 advantage this afternoon.
- Five Lady Raiders scored in double figures for the second time this season (last at Southern Illinois - Nov. 12, 2022).
- Savannah Wheeler reached double figures in free throws made for the third time this season.
- MTSU tied a season-best with 26 free throws made.
Thoughts from Head Coach Rick Insell
"We have been doing an average job at the free throw line. The more you talk about free throws guys, the more it gets in their head. You just don't talk about it. You go to practice, you work on it, you try to set up some type of game type situation. That's one of the toughest things to do in a practice, is to set up a game type situation for free throws.
"And you know, that just comes down to mental toughness. You've just got to get up there. If you're a good free throw shooter, you've got to get you rhythm, you've got to the same thing every time. Approach, alignment, same way every time. When you do that, you're going to increase your percentages shooting free throws."
Player's Perspective: Kseniya Malashka
"For me, it was a special game. Because I love playing for kids. When I was back home, I used to go to every game when the Club team was playing and that's how I fell in love with basketball.
"So for me, it was important to show up for those kids, because I know that some of them are looking at us as role models, not just in basketball but in life, how we carry ourselves to the court, how our attitude is. Usually my body language is kind of low, but today I gave it my all."
Up Next
The Lady Raiders stay at the Glass House over the weekend for a scintillating Top 25 matchup with No. 18 Lousiville on Sunday, December 4. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Blue Raider Radio Network
Follow the Lady Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball on social media on Facebook (/MTSUWBB), Twitter (@MT_WBB) and Instagram (@mt_wbb).
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