Blue Raiders Remain Unbeaten in Conference Play, Defeat Kennesaw State 59-47

Thursday, January 9

Kennesaw, Ga.

6 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

11-5,3-0CUSA

Kennesaw State

5-8,0-2CUSA

Middle Tenn.

Kennesaw St.

1/9/2025 8:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Boldyreva led all scorers with 26, tying a Blue Raider season-high

By: Zach Brown, MTSU Athletic Communications

KENNESAW, Ga. – In their first road test in Conference USA play, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (11-5, 3-0 CUSA) continued their unbeaten run in Conference USA play with a 59-47 win over the Kennesaw State Owls (5-8, 0-2 CUSA) at the KSU Convocation Center.

With the win tonight, the Blue Raiders extended their Conference USA winning streak to 32 consecutive games and improved their conference record in 2025 to 3-0.

The opening ten minutes of play proved to be a quarter of runs, first by Kennesaw State, with the Owls jumping out to a 10-6 lead just beyond the 5-minute mark. The Blue Raiders would make a run of their own, going on a 10-0 scoring run, claiming their largest lead of the first half, heading into the game's first media timeout. Middle Tennessee would maintain a two-point advantage by quarter's end, 16-14.

Both teams struggled to regain their offensive rhythm in the second period with the Blue Raiders shooting just 25% for the half and Kennesaw State just 29%. Middle Tennessee held on to a narrow, 24-23 lead heading into the halftime break.

Kennesaw State reclaimed the lead coming out of the intermission with a three-pointer from Keiara Griffin at the 3:04 mark to put the Owls back up by one, 32-31. The Blue Raiders closed out the third quarter on an 11-4 run to command another six-point advantage heading into the final quarter of play, 42-36, behind a pair of baskets from Anastasiia Boldyreva and Courtney Blakely.

Middle Tennessee began to pull away in the early stages of the fourth quarter, extending their lead to 11, their first double-digit advantage of the night. The Blue Raiders jumped out to their largest lead of the night, leading by 18, 59-41, with just under two minutes to play. MTSU would close out a 59-47 win on the road over Kennesaw State to improve to 11-5 on the season and 3-0 in conference play.

Boldyreva led all scorers with 26 points, tying Middle Tennessee's season-high, shooting 12-17, along with eight rebounds and three blocks. As a team, the Blue Raiders shot 40% from the field, won the rebounding battle 40-37 and recorded 14 assists on 24 made shots, led by Blakely with seven.

By the Numbers
26: Boldyreva tied the Blue Raiders' single game season-high with 26 points tonight, previously held by Jalynn Gregory with 26 points against Liberty (1/4/25).
38: Middle Tennessee outscored Kennesaw State 38-14 in points in the paint, a key to the Blue Raiders' double-digit victory.
14 & 12: Ta'Mia Scott notched her second double-double of the season with a 14-points, 12-rebound performance.

Thoughts from Head Coach Rick Insell
"I though Cab gave us a spark at the end of the third quarter. Nas started finishing at the rim, and when she did, it was over. When Elina picked up her fourth foul, we moved Ta'Mia down to the four to guard their [Kennesaw State] best player, and I thought she did really well. We put Jada Harrison in and she did really well too, and our team seemed to feed off of that."

Player's Perspective with Anastasiia Boldyreva
"I knew if some shots didn't go in, I would have to try others. Try a different approach to get the ball on the glass. My teammates always set me up nicley. We have good enough chemistry as a team to know when to pass and when to create our own shot."

Blue Raider Notes
Middle Tennessee improves to 3-0 in conference play with the 59-47 win over Kennesaw State, extending their CUSA winning streak to 32 dating back to the 2022-23 season.

Up Next
The Blue Raiders will continue their three-game road trip on Saturday, Jan. 11, as they take on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at 2:30 p.m. at the Pete Mathews Coliseum.

Follow the Blue Raiders
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