Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, March 5
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
2:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
-226,144 CUSA
62
vs
44
Old Dominion
-228,126 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Old Dominion
4
13
10
17
44
Middle Tenn.
9
15
13
25
62
Team Stats
ODU
MTSU
FG%
.268
.392
3FG%
.125
.333
FT%
.522
.800
RB
39
40
TO
16
15
STL
4
5
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Lady Raiders get past ODU, secure No. 2 seed
3/5/2022 5:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Insell earns 400th career win as MT completes undefeated season at home
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee women's basketball earned their 14th C-USA win of the season on Senior Day at the Murphy Center, dominating Old Dominion defensively on the way to a 62-44 victory on Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Raiders (22-6, 14-4 C-USA) held the Monarchs (22-8, 12-6 C-USA) to a 26.8 percent shooting percentage from the floor (15-for-56) while smothering ODU beyond the arc, where the Monarchs shot a paltry 12.5 percent (2-for-16). ODU even struggled to knock down free throws amid the bright overcast sky peaking through the Glass House, shooting 12-for-23 at the charity stripe.
With the win, Middle Tennessee secured the No. 2 seed out of the C-USA East Division for next week's conference tournament, and with it a bye to the C-USA quarterfinals. MT will begin its tournament play at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 10.
"We played a little tight because it was senior night and all the other stuff that was going on, (such as) playing for that second seed so that we didn't have to play until Thursday," head coach Rick Insell said. "So, there was a lot of stuff on their minds and as a coaching staff, you've got to try to diminish all that and get through it if you can. But we did enough good stuff that we won the ball game."
Courtney Whitson led all scorers with 16 points and led the Lady Raiders with eight rebounds, battling through early second half foul trouble to will her team to get some momentum with her on the bench. She hit two of her three 3-point attempts in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach late.
"I wanted to build on their momentum," Whitson said. "We knew it was going to be tough, their defense is great. They're athletic. So, we just had to get a spark however we could."
Anastasiia Boldyreva was excellent in the post, scoring 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting while securing seven rebounds. Dor Saar was steady at the point despite cold shooting early, making all six of her free throw attempts and drilling two threes for 12 points alongside seven boards and a team-high six assists.
"Just playing back-to-back games is so tough," Saar said of earning the bye in the conference tournament. "Any time you can get a free round, it's very important.
Saar and Amanda Whittington were honored following the game as graduating seniors with a ceremony on court. Rick Insell was also honored post-game for his 400th career win as a collegiate head coach. He is the 14th active DI coach to get their first 400 wins as a head coach all at their first school, but of those 14, Insell is the only one to do it at their alma mater.
Middle Tennessee showed its defensive dominance in the game's opening 10 minutes, not allowing ODU to score any points until the 1:29 mark in the first quarter en route to a 9-4 lead. No Lady Raider had more than one basket individually in the first quarter, as the teams were whistled for 10 total fouls, including five combined offensive fouls, in the opening quarter.
The Lady Raiders expanded their lead in the second quarter, entering the locker room at halftime with a 24-17 advantage. Courtney Whitson led all scorers with 11 points, while adding five rebounds and three assists. The Monarchs were held to just 7-of-28 from the field and 2-for-11 beyond the arc in the opening quarter, with Alexis Whittington holding ODU's leading scorer Iggy Allen (15.1 ppg) to just two points in the half.
The third quarter would see MT build on its lead thanks to Boldyreva, who went 3-for-4 from the field while drilling a three-pointer to put ODU's defense on their heels. MT held the Monarchs scoreless beyond the arc and allowed only four made shots despite 16 attempts from ODU, taking a 37-27 lead into the final quarter.
The wear and tear of a physical game was evident in the fourth, as the two teams were charged with a combined 17 fouls in the final ten minutes. ODU went 9-for-12 at the foul line while MT was 9-for-10 at the charity stripe, with Middle Tennessee also shooting 6-for-12 from the field to increase their final margin of victory to 18.
MT will travel to Frisco, Texas. on Monday to begin its on-site preparation for the C-USA tournament.
"It's a different mindset," Whitson said. "We've got to get our young girls on board, and then we'll be good."
The Lady Raiders (22-6, 14-4 C-USA) held the Monarchs (22-8, 12-6 C-USA) to a 26.8 percent shooting percentage from the floor (15-for-56) while smothering ODU beyond the arc, where the Monarchs shot a paltry 12.5 percent (2-for-16). ODU even struggled to knock down free throws amid the bright overcast sky peaking through the Glass House, shooting 12-for-23 at the charity stripe.
With the win, Middle Tennessee secured the No. 2 seed out of the C-USA East Division for next week's conference tournament, and with it a bye to the C-USA quarterfinals. MT will begin its tournament play at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 10.
"We played a little tight because it was senior night and all the other stuff that was going on, (such as) playing for that second seed so that we didn't have to play until Thursday," head coach Rick Insell said. "So, there was a lot of stuff on their minds and as a coaching staff, you've got to try to diminish all that and get through it if you can. But we did enough good stuff that we won the ball game."
Courtney Whitson led all scorers with 16 points and led the Lady Raiders with eight rebounds, battling through early second half foul trouble to will her team to get some momentum with her on the bench. She hit two of her three 3-point attempts in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach late.
"I wanted to build on their momentum," Whitson said. "We knew it was going to be tough, their defense is great. They're athletic. So, we just had to get a spark however we could."
Anastasiia Boldyreva was excellent in the post, scoring 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting while securing seven rebounds. Dor Saar was steady at the point despite cold shooting early, making all six of her free throw attempts and drilling two threes for 12 points alongside seven boards and a team-high six assists.
"Just playing back-to-back games is so tough," Saar said of earning the bye in the conference tournament. "Any time you can get a free round, it's very important.
Saar and Amanda Whittington were honored following the game as graduating seniors with a ceremony on court. Rick Insell was also honored post-game for his 400th career win as a collegiate head coach. He is the 14th active DI coach to get their first 400 wins as a head coach all at their first school, but of those 14, Insell is the only one to do it at their alma mater.
Middle Tennessee showed its defensive dominance in the game's opening 10 minutes, not allowing ODU to score any points until the 1:29 mark in the first quarter en route to a 9-4 lead. No Lady Raider had more than one basket individually in the first quarter, as the teams were whistled for 10 total fouls, including five combined offensive fouls, in the opening quarter.
The Lady Raiders expanded their lead in the second quarter, entering the locker room at halftime with a 24-17 advantage. Courtney Whitson led all scorers with 11 points, while adding five rebounds and three assists. The Monarchs were held to just 7-of-28 from the field and 2-for-11 beyond the arc in the opening quarter, with Alexis Whittington holding ODU's leading scorer Iggy Allen (15.1 ppg) to just two points in the half.
The third quarter would see MT build on its lead thanks to Boldyreva, who went 3-for-4 from the field while drilling a three-pointer to put ODU's defense on their heels. MT held the Monarchs scoreless beyond the arc and allowed only four made shots despite 16 attempts from ODU, taking a 37-27 lead into the final quarter.
The wear and tear of a physical game was evident in the fourth, as the two teams were charged with a combined 17 fouls in the final ten minutes. ODU went 9-for-12 at the foul line while MT was 9-for-10 at the charity stripe, with Middle Tennessee also shooting 6-for-12 from the field to increase their final margin of victory to 18.
MT will travel to Frisco, Texas. on Monday to begin its on-site preparation for the C-USA tournament.
"It's a different mindset," Whitson said. "We've got to get our young girls on board, and then we'll be good."
True Blue Testimonials - Savannah Davis MTSU Women's Basketball Guard - Presented by MMC
Thursday, October 16
2025 MTSU Basketball tickets on sale now - October 1st
Wednesday, October 01
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
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Rick Insell Conference USA Hall of Fame Announcement
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