Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
11-9,6-2CUSA
Liberty
9-9,3-4CUSA
Coach Insell reaches 500th career win as Blue Raiders best Liberty
1/23/2026 9:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball (11-9, 6-2 CUSA) topped Liberty (9-9, 3-4 CUSA) Friday night in the Murphy Center by a final score of 63-54. The win marked 500 NCAA division one wins for Blue Raider Head Coach Rick Insell.
The Blue Raiders struck first, Blair Baugus scoring the first two points of the game with a jumper in the paint. Middle Tennessee held the lead for the rest of the first quarter, entering the second leading 17-12. Baugus posted double figure scoring for the Blue Raiders just in the first quarter, leading all players in the game with 10 points.
Middle Tennessee caught fire from deep, Savannah Davis and Alayna Contreras combining for nine points to start the second quarter. The Blue Raiders went on a 7-0 scoring run and held the Flames scoreless for over three minutes in that stretch. The teams headed into the locker room at halftime with a score of 29-27 in favor of the Flames, Liberty's first lead in the first 20 minutes of play. Baugus continued to lead all players in scoring at the half with 11 points.
Kirston Verhulst opened the third quarter with a three-pointer, putting the Blue Raiders back in the lead. Middle Tennessee and Liberty traded blows the rest of the third quarter; the Blue Raiders ultimately took a three-point lead into the fourth with a score of 43-40.
The fourth quarter was all Middle Tennessee, the Blue Raiders scoring 20 points in the last 10 minutes of play. Three Blue Raiders finished the game in double-digit points, Blair Baugus leading the way with 22, Alayna Contreras and Macie Phifer posting 15 and 13. Middle Tennessee had 11 steals and scored 22 points on 19 Liberty turnovers.
Coach's Comments
Comments from Coach to come.
By the Numbers
500: With tonight's win over Liberty, Head Coach Rick Insell has reached the tremendous milestone of 500 career wins.
6: Insell is now one of just six active women's basketball head coaches in the nation to have amassed 500 wins at one school.
1: Coach Insell is the only coach in women's basketball history with 500 wins at both the high school and NCAA division one levels.
Up Next
The Blue Raiders will host rival Western Kentucky on Saturday, Jan. 31. The game is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on the Blue Raider Network, as well as streamed on ESPN+.
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