Lady Raiders Host UAB in Play4Kay Game

Saturday, February 11

Murfreesboro, TN

5 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

UAB

Photo by: Matt Posey/MT Athletic Communications

2/10/2023 4:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Game Notes Play4Kay Free Throw Challenge Buy Tickets

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.---Fresh off of scoring a season-high 94 points vs. WKU Feb. 9, Middle Tennessee women's basketball will host UAB Feb. 11 at the Murphy Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

The Lady Raiders (19-4, 11-2 C-USA), who are looking to stay undefeated at home, will recognize the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the fight against cancers affecting women. The first 200 fans will receive a pink tumbler while fans wearing pink can get into the game for $8 per person at the box office. For more information on Play4Kay and the Play4Kay Free Throw Challenge, click here.

Tickets are available at goblueraiders.com/tickets or by calling the Blue Raider Ticket Office at 615-898-5261. The game will also air on ESPN+ and the Blue Raider Network.

LAST TIME OUT

Middle Tennessee women's basketball endured the early onslaught from WKU and found their groove, scoring a season-high 94 points to defeat the Lady Toppers 94-81 on Thursday night in the Murphy Center.

The Lady Raiders (19-4, 12-2) trailed by as many as 10 points early in the second quarter, but stayed patient, hitting open shots, getting to the foul line and hauling in rebounds to mount an impressive offensive showcase, making 55.4 percent of their shots from the floor. While the Lady Toppers (13-10, 10-4 C-USA) were able to keep things close thanks to a hot shooting night from outside, (16-for-32 from three), MTSU dominated inside with 34 points in the paint to pace the offense.

Savannah Wheeler played her best game in a Lady Raider uniform, scoring a season-high 37 points on 11-of-16 shooting, while making 13-of-15 free throw attempts. The junior guard drew 12 fouls from the Lady Toppers, while dishing out four assists and nabbing a team-high two steals. Jalynn Gregory was her sharpshooter self, scoring 19 points thanks to a 5-for-11 clip from beyond the arc.

Alexis Whittington earned a double-double at the 4 for the injured Courtney Whitson, scoring 13 points and grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds. Anastasiia Boldyreva was key in the paint, scoring 13 points and grabbing six rebounds, while also blocking three shots.

ON THE COURT

Overall Stat Leaders
Points - Savannah Wheeler (16.2 PPG)
Rebounds - Courtney Whitson (8 RPG)
Assists - Savannah Wheeler (3.3 APG)
Steals - Jalynn Gregory (1.8 SPG)

LADY RAIDER NOTES

Middle Tennessee is one of 15 teams in the nation undefeated at home this season. The Lady Raiders have won 28 straight regular season games at the Glass House and 17 consecutive C-USA games.
Junior guard Savannah Wheeler's 37 points Feb. 9 vs. WKU were the most points she's scored in a game in a Lady Raider uniform, smashing her previous MTSU best of 29 points earlier this season against LA Tech. It was just three points off her career high, when the Catlettsburg, Ky. native scored 40 points against Oakland last season while competing for Marshall.
Thirty seven points were the most points in a game by a Lady Raider since the 2020-21 season. Wheeler tied the most points by a Conference USA player in a game this season and set her own career high in a C-USA game. Her 11 field goals and 13 free throws set new season highs.
The Lady Raiders rank 25th nationally and lead C-USA in field goal percentage defense, holding teams to 36.2 percent shooting. In overall scoring defense, Middle Tennessee's opponents are scoring just 56.1 points per game, which ranks 26th in the country and first in the conference.
MTSU is going for its fourth straight 20-win season Saturday and 29th in program history.

BREAKING DOWN THE BLAZERS

The Blazers are 2-4 since playing the Lady Raiders Jan. 16 with both wins coming against North Texas.

UAB leads Conference USA in assists per game (14.3), defensive rebounds per game (28) and three-point percentage (33.8 percent).

Denim DeShields, who averages a team-best 13.7 points per game, leads the league in assists with 110 while Margaret Whitley's 39.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc is first among C-USA qualifiers. No other Blazer has hit more than 27 3-pointers while Whitley has hit 55 on the season.