Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, January 21
Murfreesboro, TN
1 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
-162,90 CUSA
68
vs
50
Louisiana Tech
-118,45 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Louisiana Tech
11
13
14
12
50
Middle Tenn.
16
14
7
31
68
Team Stats
LATech
MTSU
FG%
.352
.462
3FG%
.353
.333
FT%
1.000
.929
RB
30
33
TO
9
9
STL
1
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
29
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
7
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
Lady Raiders dominate fourth quarter to defeat Lady Techsters
1/21/2023 4:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Savannah Wheeler scored a season-high 29 points, 14 of those coming in the fourth quarter.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee women's basketball caught on fire in the fourth quarter, outscoring LA Tech 31-12 in the final 10 minutes of the game to blast its way to a 68-50 victory on Saturday at the Murphy Center.
Trailing 37-38 after three quarters, MTSU (16-2, 9-0 C-USA) opened the fourth quarter on a rapid 7-0 run in under two minutes, forcing a timeout from LA Tech (11-8, 4-5 C-USA). The Lady Techsters were able to pull within as many as three points, but a pair of clutch three pointers from Alexis Whittington and Jalynn Gregory kept the Lady Raiders out of range.
LA Tech fouled Savannah Wheeler in the process of shooting a three-pointer at the 4:06 mark, and LA Tech Head Coach Brooke Stoehr earned a technical foul shortly thereafter protesting what she perceived as a no-call on a travel. Wheeler calmly stepped up and knocked down four of her five free throws and followed those up with a dagger of a floater on the extra possession to give MTSU a 12-point lead with under four minutes to play.
Wheeler led all scorers with a season-high 29 points, making 9-of-13 shots from the field, including 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. Anastasiia Boldyreva was huge in the post, scoring 18 points while hauling in eight rebounds and blocking four LA Tech shots. Alexis Whittington did great work defensively on Keiunna Walker, holding her under her season scoring average while adding nine points to her team's effort on offense. Jalynn Gregory scored eight points while dishing out eight assists against LA Tech's 3-2 zone. Courtney Whitson was held scoreless, but hauled in 11 rebounds to lead all players.
By the Numbers
16-2: The Lady Raiders ended the game on a 16-2 run, capped off by a Savannah Wheeler layup as the final shot clock horn of the afternoon sounded. MTSU started the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run and sandwiched two 8-0 runs between a Lady Techster layup to pull away late.
30: Points in the paint for MTSU, who dominated scoring inside, forcing several tough mid-range looks from LA Tech while letting their guards and Boldyreva take easy layups near the basket. Their attacks of the rim also helped take the Lady Raiders to foul line 14 times on Saturday.
8: Second chance points in the fourth quarter on just three offensive rebounds for MTSU. Trailing overall in rebounding 33-30 entering the final quarter, MTSU crashed the boards hard late, outrebounding LA Tech 9-2 in the final quarter, with three of those rebounds coming of the offensive glass. The eight second chance points cut the Lady Raiders' deficit in the stat to just 14-13, after starting the third quarter trailing 14-5.
Lady Raider Notes
"We were playing a very good basketball team, very well coached, great players and it was a great game. Come right down to the last quarter, last five minutes of the game, got some loose balls, got some deflections and hit a couple of threes. So that was the difference in the game.
"But you saw two good teams out there, two good teams. It was a good game for our fans and a good game for us."
Player's Perspective – Savannah Wheeler
"The fan base here is just amazing. We're just a group of girls that love play to the game. Being surrounded by people that love it just makes it even more special. The crowd was fabulous today."
Up Next
The Lady Raiders continue their three-game homestand on Thursday, taking on Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m. in the Murphy Center. Tickets are available at goblueraiders.com/tickets. Fans can follow the game from home on ESPN+ or on the go on 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).
Trailing 37-38 after three quarters, MTSU (16-2, 9-0 C-USA) opened the fourth quarter on a rapid 7-0 run in under two minutes, forcing a timeout from LA Tech (11-8, 4-5 C-USA). The Lady Techsters were able to pull within as many as three points, but a pair of clutch three pointers from Alexis Whittington and Jalynn Gregory kept the Lady Raiders out of range.
LA Tech fouled Savannah Wheeler in the process of shooting a three-pointer at the 4:06 mark, and LA Tech Head Coach Brooke Stoehr earned a technical foul shortly thereafter protesting what she perceived as a no-call on a travel. Wheeler calmly stepped up and knocked down four of her five free throws and followed those up with a dagger of a floater on the extra possession to give MTSU a 12-point lead with under four minutes to play.
Wheeler led all scorers with a season-high 29 points, making 9-of-13 shots from the field, including 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. Anastasiia Boldyreva was huge in the post, scoring 18 points while hauling in eight rebounds and blocking four LA Tech shots. Alexis Whittington did great work defensively on Keiunna Walker, holding her under her season scoring average while adding nine points to her team's effort on offense. Jalynn Gregory scored eight points while dishing out eight assists against LA Tech's 3-2 zone. Courtney Whitson was held scoreless, but hauled in 11 rebounds to lead all players.
By the Numbers
16-2: The Lady Raiders ended the game on a 16-2 run, capped off by a Savannah Wheeler layup as the final shot clock horn of the afternoon sounded. MTSU started the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run and sandwiched two 8-0 runs between a Lady Techster layup to pull away late.
30: Points in the paint for MTSU, who dominated scoring inside, forcing several tough mid-range looks from LA Tech while letting their guards and Boldyreva take easy layups near the basket. Their attacks of the rim also helped take the Lady Raiders to foul line 14 times on Saturday.
8: Second chance points in the fourth quarter on just three offensive rebounds for MTSU. Trailing overall in rebounding 33-30 entering the final quarter, MTSU crashed the boards hard late, outrebounding LA Tech 9-2 in the final quarter, with three of those rebounds coming of the offensive glass. The eight second chance points cut the Lady Raiders' deficit in the stat to just 14-13, after starting the third quarter trailing 14-5.
Lady Raider Notes
- Anastasiia Boldyreva has blocked four shots in two games this season. The last game came against UTSA Jan. 5 at the Murphy Center. Boldyreva also logged a season-high 29 minutes.
- Savannah Wheeler scored a season-high 29 points, which were the most scored by a Lady Raider this season, and played the duration of the game for the second time in 2022-23.
- Jalynn Gregory's five assists tied a season high while her two blocks tied a career high.
- Courtney Whitson recorded her 22nd career double figure rebounding game and is now tied with Sharon McClannahan for eighth on the program's all-time rebounding list with 749.
- It was the 12th straight game that the Lady Raiders have gone on a scoring run of at least 10 unanswered points.
"We were playing a very good basketball team, very well coached, great players and it was a great game. Come right down to the last quarter, last five minutes of the game, got some loose balls, got some deflections and hit a couple of threes. So that was the difference in the game.
"But you saw two good teams out there, two good teams. It was a good game for our fans and a good game for us."
Player's Perspective – Savannah Wheeler
"The fan base here is just amazing. We're just a group of girls that love play to the game. Being surrounded by people that love it just makes it even more special. The crowd was fabulous today."
Up Next
The Lady Raiders continue their three-game homestand on Thursday, taking on Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m. in the Murphy Center. Tickets are available at goblueraiders.com/tickets. Fans can follow the game from home on ESPN+ or on the go on 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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