Middle Tennessee Falls 64-51 at Princeton in Non-Conference Finale

Sunday, December 29

Princeton, N.J.

1 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

8-5,0-0CUSA

Princeton

8-4,0-0Ivy League

Middle Tenn.

Princeton

12/29/2024 3:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Ta’Mia Scott’s double-double not enough for Blue Raiders in loss

By: Zach Brown, MTSU Athletic Communications

PRINCETON, N.J. – In their first game in 12 days, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (8-5) closed out their non-conference slate for the 2024-25 season with a 64-51 loss against the Princeton Tigers (8-4) at Jadwin Gymnasium in Princeton, N.J.

The Blue Raiders struggled to find their offensive rhythm in the opening quarter of play, making just two of their first 11 attempts from the floor and shooting 0-3 from beyond the arc. Middle Tennessee's defense kept them in the game in the early going, forcing three Tigers' turnovers on a pair of steals, leading to three points on the other end. The Blue Raiders held the score to an 11-6 deficit after the first 10 minutes.

Princeton more than doubled their advantage in the second quarter, controlling a 37-25 lead heading into the halftime break, the Tigers' largest lead of the first half. Courtney Blakely led MTSU on the scoresheet in the first half with nine points, including a three-pointer and a perfect 4-4 line from the charity stripe.

The Tigers continued to add to their double-digit lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Blue Raiders 26-19 behind an impressive 61% shooting clip for the quarter. Ta'Mia Scott took over in the second half on the offensive end for MTSU, scoring 14 of her 21 points in the third and fourth quarters to keep Middle Tennessee within striking distance. Ultimately, Princeton would maintain its double-digit lead until the final whistle, coming away with a 13-point win on their home floor.

Scott recorded her first double-double of the season today with a game-high 21 points, along with a season-high 10 rebounds. Courtney Blakely added 14 points of her own, as well as five steals and two assists. As a team, Middle Tennessee shot 30% from the floor, 16-53, 20% from three, 4-20 and 75% from the free throw line, 15-20.

By the Numbers
3: Princeton finished the game with three players in double figures, including Skye Belker with 17 points, Fadima Tall with 16 points and Tabitha Amanze with 10 points off the bench.
11: Despite the loss, the Blue Raiders created 11 steals, just one shy of tying their highest mark for the season, led by Blakely with five.
9: The Tigers ended the game with a +9 rebound differential, 13-13 on the offensive end and 27-18 on the defensive side.

Thoughts from Head Coach Rick Insell
"I hate losing a much as anyone. Anyone who knows me knows that. We were able to do some things, but we didn't get off to a good start. We went 0-7 to start the game. We can't win doing that. I saw some good things, after we got though that first quarter. We went 4-20 from three. We can't do that. Ta'Mia was 0-7, that's unusual. Jalynn was 2-5. Cab was 2-5. She hit a couple of shots we needed."
"We can't start the way we started today and win basketball games. We can't win our conference starting like we did today."

Blue Raider Notes
Middle Tennessee will enter the Conference USA portion of their schedule for the 2024-25 season with an overall record of 8-5. Today's loss gives the Blue Raiders as many loses as the team had all of last season, as the MTSU finished 30-5 overall and 16-0 in conference play in 2023-24.

Up Next
Following the conclusion of their non-conference schedule, the Blue Raiders will return to Murfreesboro and move into Conference USA play on Thursday, Jan. 2 against the FIU Panthers at 6:30 p.m. at the Murphy Center.

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