Blue Raiders open first week at home in CUSA play with 86-43 win over UTEP

Thursday, January 8

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

6:30 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

8-7,3-0CUSA

UTEP

9-5,1-2CUSA

UTEP

Middle Tenn.

1/8/2026 8:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Anthony Fiorella

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee's (8-7, 3-0 CUSA) first Conference USA game at home was a good one for the Blue Raider faithful, putting together one of the most complete games of the season in an 86-43 win over UTEP. The Blue Raiders dominated on the glass, grabbing 54 total rebounds to UTEP's 31 while also holding UTEP to 26% shooting as a team, the worst an opponent has shot this year against Middle Tennessee.

Kirston Verhulst helped Middle Tennessee jump out to an early 23-9 lead after the opening quarter by shooting 4-of-5 to score 11 early points. The Blue Raiders grabbed five offensive rebounds and had seven second-chance points. Middle Tennessee also forced five UTEP turnovers and scored 10 points off those turnovers.

Middle Tennessee kept it's foot on the gas and scored a season-high 44 points in the first half to lead the Miners 44-19 at the break. Defensively, the Blue Raiders held UTEP to just 6-of-29 from the field, just 21%, and were out-rebounding UTEP 28-17 at the break. The Blue Raiders notched 12 points off turnovers in the first half and offensively shot 7-of-16 from three-point range. Verhulst's 17 points led all scorers at the break while classmate Blair Baugus had seven points and seven rebounds in the half. Savannah Davis and Stanislava Kabernick both grabbed seven rebounds, a piece, by halftime and Alayna Contreras contributed eight points with an assist.

Middle Tennessee continued to stifle UTEP, defensively, and kept its dominance on the boards going in the second half to secure the win. The Blue Raiders tallied 21 points on turnovers and blocked four shots with seven steals.

Verhulst capped off a career-best performance with a season-high 17 points and five three-pointers made, both marks she had set by halftime. Baugus became the first player since Cheyenne Parker in 2015 to string together three consecutive double-doubles. The reigning Conference USA freshman of the week finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds to collect her eighth double-double of the year.

Contreras finished in double figures in scoring for the third game in a row and fourth time in the past five games. The senior provided 16 points. Kabernick played a career-high 20 minutes and scored a season-high three points with a career-high 10 rebounds.

Yu Han Lin got hot late in the fourth quarter to finish with 18 points in 15 minutes off the bench on a season-high seven shots made, with 12 of her points coming in the fourth quarter. Jenna McClendon tallied her first career points, assisted on the basket by Emily Monson, who had two points and a pair of rebounds to her credit.

Coach's Comments

By the Numbers
17: Career-high point total for Verhulst.

5: Career-high in three-point field goals made for Verhulst. 54: The team-high for total rebounds in a game this season.

10: Three players with 10+ rebounds.

3: Blair Baugus' third consecutive double-double makes her the first Blue Raider to accomplish the feat since Cheyenne Parker did it in 2015.

UP NEXT:
Middle Tennessee is set to host New Mexico State at 12:00 CDT this Saturday in the Murphy Center. The game will air on the Blue Raider Network and ESPN+.

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).