Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Sunday, November 17
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
2 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
3-1,0-0CUSA
80
vs
48
Alcorn State
1-4,0-0SWAC
1
2
3
4
F
Alcorn
5
6
14
23
48
Middle Tenn.
18
19
25
18
80
Boldyreva, Gregory Lead Blue Raiders Past Alcorn State 80-48
11/17/2024 5:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Boldyreva and Gregory each scored 19 points to lead all scorers
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (3-1) picked up their third win of the 2024 season this afternoon at the Murphy Center with a convincing 80-48 win over the Alcorn State Braves (1-4).
The Blue Raiders jumped out an early 9-2 lead, behind a pair of field goals from Anastasiia Boldyreva and a 7-0 scoring run, entering the game's first media timeout. MTSU's defense set the tone in the early going, allowing just five points through the first 10 minutes, leading 18-5 after the opening quarter.
Middle Tennessee continued to control the pace of play, as the Blue Raiders would go on an 18-4 run to open the second quarter. The Middle Tennessee lead would swell to 37-11 heading into the halftime break, despite the Blue Raiders shooting just 38% from the floor and 3-15 from beyond the arc.
Similar to the effort in the first half, Middle Tennessee's defense made life difficult for the Braves on the offensive end in the third quarter, as the Blue Raiders outscored Alcorn State 25-14 to seize a 62-25 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Despite their struggles through the first three quarters of play, Alcorn State found an offensive rhythm in the fourth, outscoring MTSU 23-18 over the final 10 minutes, including a 6-0 run to end the game. The Blue Raiders would prevail 80-48 on their home floor, notching their third win of the non-conference slate thus far in 2024.
Boldyreva and Jalynn Gregory paced the Blue Raiders in the scoring department, leading all scorers with 19 points apiece, with Boldyreva nearing a double-double with nine rebounds. Gregory also added five three-point field goals on 12 attempts to go with three rebounds, a steal and a block. MTSU recieved valuable minutes off the bench from both Jada Harrison (nine points seven rebounds) and Jada Grannum (nine rebounds, +/- 25).
As a team, Middle Tennessee shot 41% from the field and 30% from three, scoring 80 points on 14 assists, narrowly surpassing their previous season-high of 78 points against North Kentucky in the season opener. A key element to the Blue Raiders win was their ability to control the glass on both the defensive and offensive end, resulting in a +15-rebounding margin.
By the Numbers
29.6: The Blue Raiders held Alcorn State to just 29.6% shooting from the field, as well as 23.5% from three.
41: 41 was the largest lead of the game for Middle Tennessee, their largest of the season thus far.
13: The Blue Raiders tied their season-high with 13 offensive rebounds, leading to six second-chance points.
Thoughts from Head Coach Rick Insell
"We should have won, and we should have won by as big as we did. I was happy with some of the things we did, and I was unhappy with some of the other things. Their (Alcorn State's) coach said that he thought we played the best defense he's seen all year, and that's including a couple of SEC teams, so that's a pretty big positive to hear that after the game. There are some things we have to improve on. Defensively and rebounding in particular, and our free throw shooting. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the win."
Blue Raider Notes
Middle Tennessee never trailed in route to their third win of the season on their home floor, behind 19 points from both Boldyreva and Gregory.
Up Next
The Blue Raiders will host the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles for their penultimate non-conference home game of the season on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 6:30 P.M. at the Murphy Center.
Upcoming Game Promotion: Turkey Trot
Follow Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball on social media on Facebook (/MTSUWBB), X (Formerly known as Twitter) (@MT_WBB) and Instagram (@mt_wbb).
The Blue Raiders jumped out an early 9-2 lead, behind a pair of field goals from Anastasiia Boldyreva and a 7-0 scoring run, entering the game's first media timeout. MTSU's defense set the tone in the early going, allowing just five points through the first 10 minutes, leading 18-5 after the opening quarter.
Middle Tennessee continued to control the pace of play, as the Blue Raiders would go on an 18-4 run to open the second quarter. The Middle Tennessee lead would swell to 37-11 heading into the halftime break, despite the Blue Raiders shooting just 38% from the floor and 3-15 from beyond the arc.
Similar to the effort in the first half, Middle Tennessee's defense made life difficult for the Braves on the offensive end in the third quarter, as the Blue Raiders outscored Alcorn State 25-14 to seize a 62-25 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Despite their struggles through the first three quarters of play, Alcorn State found an offensive rhythm in the fourth, outscoring MTSU 23-18 over the final 10 minutes, including a 6-0 run to end the game. The Blue Raiders would prevail 80-48 on their home floor, notching their third win of the non-conference slate thus far in 2024.
Boldyreva and Jalynn Gregory paced the Blue Raiders in the scoring department, leading all scorers with 19 points apiece, with Boldyreva nearing a double-double with nine rebounds. Gregory also added five three-point field goals on 12 attempts to go with three rebounds, a steal and a block. MTSU recieved valuable minutes off the bench from both Jada Harrison (nine points seven rebounds) and Jada Grannum (nine rebounds, +/- 25).
As a team, Middle Tennessee shot 41% from the field and 30% from three, scoring 80 points on 14 assists, narrowly surpassing their previous season-high of 78 points against North Kentucky in the season opener. A key element to the Blue Raiders win was their ability to control the glass on both the defensive and offensive end, resulting in a +15-rebounding margin.
By the Numbers
29.6: The Blue Raiders held Alcorn State to just 29.6% shooting from the field, as well as 23.5% from three.
41: 41 was the largest lead of the game for Middle Tennessee, their largest of the season thus far.
13: The Blue Raiders tied their season-high with 13 offensive rebounds, leading to six second-chance points.
Thoughts from Head Coach Rick Insell
"We should have won, and we should have won by as big as we did. I was happy with some of the things we did, and I was unhappy with some of the other things. Their (Alcorn State's) coach said that he thought we played the best defense he's seen all year, and that's including a couple of SEC teams, so that's a pretty big positive to hear that after the game. There are some things we have to improve on. Defensively and rebounding in particular, and our free throw shooting. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the win."
Blue Raider Notes
Middle Tennessee never trailed in route to their third win of the season on their home floor, behind 19 points from both Boldyreva and Gregory.
Up Next
The Blue Raiders will host the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles for their penultimate non-conference home game of the season on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 6:30 P.M. at the Murphy Center.
Upcoming Game Promotion: Turkey Trot
- Thanksgiving Themed Activities
- Annual Teddy Bear Toss at Halftime
- Alumni Appreciation – discounted tickets available through the Alumni Office.
Follow Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball on social media on Facebook (/MTSUWBB), X (Formerly known as Twitter) (@MT_WBB) and Instagram (@mt_wbb).
Team Stats
Alcorn
MTSU
FG%
.296
.410
3FG%
.235
.300
FT%
.545
.778
RB
32
47
TO
16
14
STL
8
6
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
9
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball2025 MTSU Basketball tickets on sale now - October 1st
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