Blue Raiders Take Down Purdue in Defensive Battle 54-49 on Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 28

Fort Myers, Fla.

3:30 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

6-1,0-0CUSA

Purdue

4-2,0-0Big Ten

Purdue

Middle Tenn.

11/28/2024 7:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Boldyreva records Middle Tennessee’s first double-double of the season in win

By: Zach Brown, MTSU Athletic Communications

FORT MYERS, Fla. – In what proved to be a physical, defensive battle, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (6-1) prevailed over the Purdue Boilermakers (4-2) 54-49 in the second game of a Thanksgiving-Day slate at the Elevance Health's Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off in Fort Myers, Fla.

The Blue Raiders fought their way back into the game after facing an early 9-3 deficit with the Boilermakers converting three of its first five attempts from the perimeter. Middle Tennessee would even the odds down the stretch of the opening quarter by creating their own opportunities from outside, including a three pointer from Ta'Mia Scott, followed by a fastbreak layup by Anastasiia Boldyreva to give MTSU the lead. Purdue would reclaim a 15-14 advantage after the opening 10 minutes.

In the second quarter, both teams ramped up the defensive pressure, not allowing the other to create any sort of rhythm on the offensive end. Just before the break, Middle Tennessee jumped out a six-point lead prior to a layup by Purdue's Kendall Puryear, cutting the lead to 25-21 at the intermission.

The back-and-forth affair continued into the second half with Purdue opening the third quarter on an 8-0 run and a 29-25 lead. The Blue Raiders would whether the storm following a pair of three pointers from Jalynn Gregory to put MTSU back up by two. The third quarter featured four separate scoring runs, two by each team, but it was Middle Tennessee who provided the quarter's final run to restore a four-point lead heading into the fourth in Fort Myers.

The game drew to a standstill at the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter with the score tied at 49. Another 1:30 would come off the game clock before either team's next points, a pair of free throws from Boldyreva, giving her 18 for the game to put the Blue Raiders up 51-49 with 2:43 remaining. Middle Tennessee would extend their lead to five as the clock hit triple zeroes, giving the Blue Raiders their first win of two games in Fort Myers, and extending their current winning streak to four.

Boldyreva once again led the Blue Raiders in the scoring department with 19 points, logging her second Player of the Game nod of the week. The senior center also recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds, to go with four blocks. Gregory and Elina Arike finished in double-figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively.

By the Numbers
19-10-4: Boldyreva records this season's first double-double for the Blue Raiders with 19 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.
6: Middle Tennessee took care of the basketball today, limiting themselves to season-low six turnovers.
33.3: MTSU limited the Boilermakers to just 33.3% shooting from the field on 63 attempts.

Thoughts from Head Coach Rick Insell
"I'm really proud of our players. We didn't quit. We didn't shoot the ball extremely well, but we made the plays we needed to. Nas went to work in the fourth quarter. We got her the ball, and that was the difference in the ball game."

Blue Raider Notes
Boldyreva notches Middle Tennessee's first double-double since her 11-point, 12-rebound performance against Louisville in March in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Up Next
The Blue Raiders will continue their Feast Week road trip in Fort Myers on Saturday, Nov. 30, as they take on No. 15 Iowa State at Suncoast Arena at 12:30 P.M. CT.

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