Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, December 31
Bowling Green, KY
2 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
-102,30 CUSA
80
at
75
WKU
-47,11 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Middle Tenn.
11
27
20
22
80
Western Ky.
18
22
15
20
75
Team Stats
MTSU
WestKy
FG%
.458
.388
3FG%
.240
.333
FT%
.833
.706
RB
42
34
TO
15
12
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Pts
26
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
10
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
Lady Raiders Outlast WKU For 10th Win
12/31/2022 6:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Winning Streak Continues on New Year's Eve
BOWLING GREEN, Ky.–– Middle Tennessee women's basketball pulled away late on the road to defeat WKU 80-75 on New Year's Eve.
After trailing for the entire first half, the Lady Raiders (10-2, 3-0) maintained a tight lead over WKU (4-7, 1-1) for a majority of the third quarter. Two Courtney Blakely baskets to open the third frame gave Middle Tennessee its first lead of the afternoon at 42-40. Blakely went on to score all of her eight points in the quarter.
A 14-5 MTSU run from the closing minutes in the third quarter to the six minute mark in the fourth created more separation by giving the Lady Raiders their first double figure lead of the day (71-60). The Lady Toppers cut into the Lady Raider lead in the last 5:53, getting as close as five, but Middle Tennessee's final nine points came at the free throw line to hold off WKU.
Jalynn Gregory led all scorers and set a new season high in points with 26, along with four assists. Kseniya Malashka posted 19 points, seven rebounds and matched her career-high with four blocks off the bench. Courtney Whitson added 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
By the Numbers
8: Longest winning streak by a Lady Raider team since MTSU won nine in a row from Jan. 21 to Feb. 21, 2016.
27: Points in the second quarter, which ties for the most in a frame this season.
23: Points off turnovers compared to WKU's nine.
230: Consecutive minutes played by Courtney Whitson.
Game Notes
- Middle Tennessee improves to 4-0 on Saturdays and capped off a perfect month for the first time since January 2014.
- In two career games at WKU, Jalynn Gregory has scored 56 points and dished eight assists.
- Today marks seven straight games the Lady Raiders have gone on a scoring run of at least 10 unanswered points.
- After outscoring WKU 36-30 in the paint, the Lady Raiders have won the battle in the paint in 11 of their 12 games this season.
- At 10-2, the Lady Raiders are off to their best start (through 12 games) in the Insell era and since the 1995-96 season when they started 11-1.
Thoughts from Head Coach Rick Insell
"You rebound the basketball, you knock down your free throws, you play defense, you give yourself a chance to win. We got two big wins this week and we got to go at it next week. We play at home Thursday night and then go on the road to North Texas."
"Jalynn Gregory just played her butt off. She had some steals, she got on the boards, played point guard, knocked down her free throws. She did what she had to do."
Up Next
Middle Tennessee returns to the Murphy Center to face UTSA Jan. 5. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
After trailing for the entire first half, the Lady Raiders (10-2, 3-0) maintained a tight lead over WKU (4-7, 1-1) for a majority of the third quarter. Two Courtney Blakely baskets to open the third frame gave Middle Tennessee its first lead of the afternoon at 42-40. Blakely went on to score all of her eight points in the quarter.
A 14-5 MTSU run from the closing minutes in the third quarter to the six minute mark in the fourth created more separation by giving the Lady Raiders their first double figure lead of the day (71-60). The Lady Toppers cut into the Lady Raider lead in the last 5:53, getting as close as five, but Middle Tennessee's final nine points came at the free throw line to hold off WKU.
Jalynn Gregory led all scorers and set a new season high in points with 26, along with four assists. Kseniya Malashka posted 19 points, seven rebounds and matched her career-high with four blocks off the bench. Courtney Whitson added 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
By the Numbers
8: Longest winning streak by a Lady Raider team since MTSU won nine in a row from Jan. 21 to Feb. 21, 2016.
27: Points in the second quarter, which ties for the most in a frame this season.
23: Points off turnovers compared to WKU's nine.
230: Consecutive minutes played by Courtney Whitson.
Game Notes
- Middle Tennessee improves to 4-0 on Saturdays and capped off a perfect month for the first time since January 2014.
- In two career games at WKU, Jalynn Gregory has scored 56 points and dished eight assists.
- Today marks seven straight games the Lady Raiders have gone on a scoring run of at least 10 unanswered points.
- After outscoring WKU 36-30 in the paint, the Lady Raiders have won the battle in the paint in 11 of their 12 games this season.
- At 10-2, the Lady Raiders are off to their best start (through 12 games) in the Insell era and since the 1995-96 season when they started 11-1.
Thoughts from Head Coach Rick Insell
"You rebound the basketball, you knock down your free throws, you play defense, you give yourself a chance to win. We got two big wins this week and we got to go at it next week. We play at home Thursday night and then go on the road to North Texas."
"Jalynn Gregory just played her butt off. She had some steals, she got on the boards, played point guard, knocked down her free throws. She did what she had to do."
Up Next
Middle Tennessee returns to the Murphy Center to face UTSA Jan. 5. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
2025 MTSU Basketball tickets on sale now - October 1st
Wednesday, October 01
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
Rick Insell Conference USA Hall of Fame Announcement
Wednesday, July 09
2025 Blue Raider Blitz Media Panel
Thursday, July 03
