Blue Raiders set to host Memphis

Sunday, December 7

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

1 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

Memphis

12/6/2025 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Sunday, Dec. 7 \| 1 p.m. \| Murphy Center \| Murfreesboro, Tenn.

	MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS 3-5, 0-0 CUSA	vs.	MEMPHIS TIGERS 4-5, 0-0 AC

WATCH: ESPN+ \| STATS: LINK \| RADIO: WGNS (LINK) \| MEDIA CENTER: LINK

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee is set to host the Memphis Tigers on Sunday, Dec. 7, inside Murphy Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT. The game will air on the Blue Raider Network and broadcast on ESPN+.

GAME NINE

» Sunday, December 7 - 1 p.m.
» Murphy Center
» Murfreesboro, Tennessee

SERIES HISTORY

» This marks the 21st meeting in series history between the Blue Raiders and Tigers.
» MTSU owns a 12-8 lead over Memphis in the all-time series.
» The Blue Raiders won the previous meeting 64-57 on Nov. 20, 2023 in the Women's Battle 4 Atlantis.

BLUE RAIDER NOTES

» MTSU enters the matchup coming off of a 65-71 setback to Belmont. After trailing by as many as 20 in the first half, the Blue Raiders stormed back to tie the game in the final minute before ultimately falling just short.
» Four Blue Raiders scored in double figures against Belmont — all freshmen. Blair Baugus paced the group with 21 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists. Macie Phifer added a career-high 14 points, four rebounds and two blocks. Kirston Verhulst posted a career-high 11 points, a career-best eight boards and two steals, while Yu Han Lin chipped in 10 points, three rebounds and three steals.
» The Glass House has been one of the toughest places to play, with Middle Tennessee posting a 56-4 home record across the last four seasons. The lone losses came to Seton Hall (2022-23 WNIT semifinals), Princeton (2023-24) and this year to No. 13 Tennessee and Belmont.
» Middle Tennessee is one of only a handful of Division I programs that do not feature a single returning starter on the roster. According to available national data, Santa Clara is the only program in the country bringing in more newcomers while also returning zero starters.
» Senior Alayna Contreras was selected to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team. The Minneapolis, Minn., native started all 33 games last year and led UMKC in scoring (17.3 ppg), minutes, field goals made, three-pointers made and free throws made.
» Middle Tennessee was picked third in the CUSA preseason poll. This marks only the sixth time in Rick Insell's 21 seasons — and just the fourth time in CUSA — that the Blue Raiders have not been selected as the preseason favorite.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS

» Memphis enters the matchup with a 4-5, 0-0 AC record. The Tigers are coming off a pair of losses to Florida and St. John's at the Cayman Islands Classic.
» Chae Harris leads the Tigers in scoring at 16.2 PPG, while Paris Gaines leads the team in boards (5.1).
» Daejah Richmond is dishing at a team-high 2.7 assists per game and grabbing a team high 2.0 steals per game
» The Tigers are amid a 33-day spell without a home game at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
» Memphis ranks fifth in pace in Division I, averaging 78.5 possessions per game.
» Memphis is forcing 20.8 turnovers per game, a top-60 figure in Division I.