Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Tuesday, December 17
Riverside, Calif.
8 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
8-4,0-0CUSA
74
at
54
Cal Baptist
2-11,0-0WAC
1
2
3
4
F
Middle Tenn.
21
24
17
12
74
California Baptist
10
8
23
13
54
Blue Raiders Snap Two-Game Skid, Route Cal Baptist 74-54
12/17/2024 11:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Boldyreva records career-high 16 rebounds and ties career-high with eight blocks in win
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (8-4) return to the win column in their final game prior to the winter break with a dominant 74-54 win over the Cal Baptist Lancers (2-11) as part of the WAC/CUSA Challenge at the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center.
Despite the lopsided final score, the opening seven minutes of the first quarter remained relatively even on the offensive end with the Blue Raiders controlling an 11-7 lead at the 3:17-minute mark. MTSU would close out the quarter on a 10-3 scoring run, jumping out to a 21-10 advantage.
Middle Tennessee tightened its control of the game further into the second quarter, seeing their advantage grow to 45-18 heading into the halftime break. The Blue Raiders received solid contribution from each of the starters during the second period, led by Anastasiia Boldyreva and Courtney Blakely with six points each, as well as a layup from Jada Grannum off the bench as the half expired.
The Lancers outscored Middle Tennessee 23-17 in the third, but were only able to cut the lead to 62-41 by the quarter's end. The Blue Raiders created many easy looks in transition by turning Cal Baptist over 19 times for the game off nine steals, led by Blakely with five, leading to a season-high 27 points off turnovers and nine fastbreak points.
MTSU coasted through the final quarter of play to secure their second true road victory of the 2024-25 season, the first coming against Northern Kentucky in the season opener on Nov. 4, with a 74-54 win over Cal Baptist to snap a two-game losing streak and improve their overall record to 8-4.
Jalynn Gregory led the Blue Raiders in scoring tonight with 20 points, her third 20-point outing of the season, on 7-10 shooting from the field, including a 6-8 clip from three, the highest mark of the season for both Gregory and MTSU. Boldyreva finished with 14 points, her fourth double-figure performance of the season, along with a career-high 16 rebounds, as well as tying a career-high with eight blocks.
As a team, Middle Tennessee shot 46% from the floor and 47% from three, eclipsing a previous season-high of 40%. The Blue Raiders won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Cal Baptist 40-34, despite falling to -4 on the offensive end. MTSU assisted on 14 of their 26 made field goals, led by Blakley with six.
By the Numbers
16 & 8: Boldyreva recorded her career-high in rebounds with 16 and tied a career-high with eight blocked shots.
47.8: The Blue Raiders shot 47.8% from beyond the arc, the team's highest mark of the season.
16: Gregory posted her 16th career game with five or more three-point field goals, making six on eight attempts tonight.
Thoughts from Head Coach Rick Insell
"The difference in the game was that Nas (Boldyreva) came to play in the first half. The second half we let them push us around a little bit on the inside. We have to do a better job of that. We got tired and they had two post who could shoot threes, and they moved them out on the perimeter. They were going to win or lose it out there."
"Glad to get out of here with a win. Glad everyone is healthy."
Blue Raider Notes
Middle Tennessee improves to 148-18 when making 10+ three-point field goals under Rick Insell. The Blue Raiders blocked 10 shots tonight for the first time since Nov. 20 of last season in a 64-57 win over Memphis.
Up Next
Following the winter break, the Blue Raiders will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 29, as they are set to take on the Princeton Tigers in the non-conference finals at Jadwin Gymnasium in Princeton, N.J. at 1 p.m. ET.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball on social media on Facebook (/MTSUWBB), X (Formerly known as Twitter) (@MT_WBB) and Instagram (@mt_wbb).
Despite the lopsided final score, the opening seven minutes of the first quarter remained relatively even on the offensive end with the Blue Raiders controlling an 11-7 lead at the 3:17-minute mark. MTSU would close out the quarter on a 10-3 scoring run, jumping out to a 21-10 advantage.
Middle Tennessee tightened its control of the game further into the second quarter, seeing their advantage grow to 45-18 heading into the halftime break. The Blue Raiders received solid contribution from each of the starters during the second period, led by Anastasiia Boldyreva and Courtney Blakely with six points each, as well as a layup from Jada Grannum off the bench as the half expired.
The Lancers outscored Middle Tennessee 23-17 in the third, but were only able to cut the lead to 62-41 by the quarter's end. The Blue Raiders created many easy looks in transition by turning Cal Baptist over 19 times for the game off nine steals, led by Blakely with five, leading to a season-high 27 points off turnovers and nine fastbreak points.
MTSU coasted through the final quarter of play to secure their second true road victory of the 2024-25 season, the first coming against Northern Kentucky in the season opener on Nov. 4, with a 74-54 win over Cal Baptist to snap a two-game losing streak and improve their overall record to 8-4.
Jalynn Gregory led the Blue Raiders in scoring tonight with 20 points, her third 20-point outing of the season, on 7-10 shooting from the field, including a 6-8 clip from three, the highest mark of the season for both Gregory and MTSU. Boldyreva finished with 14 points, her fourth double-figure performance of the season, along with a career-high 16 rebounds, as well as tying a career-high with eight blocks.
As a team, Middle Tennessee shot 46% from the floor and 47% from three, eclipsing a previous season-high of 40%. The Blue Raiders won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Cal Baptist 40-34, despite falling to -4 on the offensive end. MTSU assisted on 14 of their 26 made field goals, led by Blakley with six.
By the Numbers
16 & 8: Boldyreva recorded her career-high in rebounds with 16 and tied a career-high with eight blocked shots.
47.8: The Blue Raiders shot 47.8% from beyond the arc, the team's highest mark of the season.
16: Gregory posted her 16th career game with five or more three-point field goals, making six on eight attempts tonight.
Thoughts from Head Coach Rick Insell
"The difference in the game was that Nas (Boldyreva) came to play in the first half. The second half we let them push us around a little bit on the inside. We have to do a better job of that. We got tired and they had two post who could shoot threes, and they moved them out on the perimeter. They were going to win or lose it out there."
"Glad to get out of here with a win. Glad everyone is healthy."
Blue Raider Notes
Middle Tennessee improves to 148-18 when making 10+ three-point field goals under Rick Insell. The Blue Raiders blocked 10 shots tonight for the first time since Nov. 20 of last season in a 64-57 win over Memphis.
Up Next
Following the winter break, the Blue Raiders will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 29, as they are set to take on the Princeton Tigers in the non-conference finals at Jadwin Gymnasium in Princeton, N.J. at 1 p.m. ET.
Follow the Blue Raiders
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
MTSU
CBU
FG%
.464
.333
3FG%
.478
.333
FT%
1.000
.000
RB
40
34
TO
16
18
STL
9
15
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
6
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
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