Lady Raiders Look to Keep Momentum at Memphis

Saturday, December 10

Memphis, TN

2 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

Memphis

12/9/2022 2:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Game Notes (PDF)

MEMPHIS, Tenn.— Coming off a win over a top-25 opponent, Middle Tennessee women's basketball hits the road this weekend as it faces Memphis Dec. 10. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. inside Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

LAST TIME OUT

The Middle Tennessee women's basketball program dominated the middle two quarters, trouncing No. 18 Louisville 39-18 in the middle 20 minutes of the game to romp to a 67-49 win in the Murphy Center on Sunday afternoon.

The win marked the Lady Raiders' first win over a ranked opponent since December 28, 2011, when MTSU knocked off No. 6 Kentucky 70-58 at the Murphy Center. It's the 11th win in program history over a ranked team (fourth under head coach Rick Insell) and the sixth ranked win inside of the Murphy Center.

After trailing by three at the end of the first quarter, suffocating defense and strong outside shooting sustained multiple seven- and eight-point runs, allowing the Lady Raiders (5-2) to stretch their lead to as many as 20 points in the third quarter. The Cardinals (5-4) managed to shoot only 7-for-31 (22.6 percent) from the field during those quarters, only slightly worse than their shooting percentage for the entire game (18-for-65, 27.7 percent).

ON THE COURT

Stat Leaders:
Points - Savannah Wheeler (17.9 PPG)
Rebounds - Courtney Whitson (8.6 RPG)
Assists - Savannah Wheeler (3.9 APG)
Steals - Jalynn Gregory (2.4 SPG)

LADY RAIDER NOTES

Savannah Wheeler has gained conference and national exposure this week after averaging 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and four assists last week in wins vs. No. 18 Louisville and Tennessee Tech. Wheeler was named Conference USA Player of the Week Monday for the second time in her career and her fourth career weekly conference honor. Later in the week, the junior guard from Catlettsburg, Ky. was named to the NCAA Starting Five for the first time in her career. Wheeler became the 15th Blue Raider to be recognized by NCAA.com and the third over the past two seasons.
Middle Tennessee's 67-49 win over then-No. 18 Louisville was the first Lady Raider win vs. a ranked opponent since 2011, the 11th win over a ranked team in program history, the fourth win over a ranked team in the Rick Insell era and the sixth ranked win inside the Murphy Center.
In addition, the win was the largest margin of victory vs. a ranked team in program history while Middle Tennessee is the only Conference USA school to beat a ranked opponent this season.
Wearing No. 333, Courtney Whitson is 16 points away from 1,000 career points. The junior forward would fittingly be the 33rd member of the Lady Raider 1,000-point club.
After her most recent double-double vs. Louisville Dec. 4, Whitson (672 career rebounds) is 17th all-time on the Lady Raider career boards list and is 3 away from moving into 12th place.
Whitson entered the top 10 in the program's career 3-pointers list last week with 180 career treys. Whitson needs three to pass Sherry Tucker for ninth all-time and four to pass Abbey Sissom for eighth. Whitson ranks eighth all time in attempts beyond the arc with 539.

MONITORING MEMPHIS

Having faced two top five teams in the last two weeks, Memphis has lost three in a row after starting the season 4-1. Like the Lady Raiders, the Tigers participated in the Las Vegas Invitational Nov. 25-26. Memphis fell to St. John's, 57-61 and then. No. 6 Inidana 64-79. Most recently, Memphis fell to top-ranked South Carolina on the road, 54-79 Dec. 3.
Memphis' 75.5 points per game leads the AAC while its 27.5 free throw attempts per game is fourth in the country.
Expect the Tigers to attack the offensive glass as Memphis is second in the AAC and 22nd in the Nation in offensive rebounds per game (15.6).
Fifth-year guard Jamirah Shutes leads the team in scoring with 14.9 points per game. Madison Griggs has made 22 3-pointers this season while no other Tiger has made more than six.