Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Memphis
11/5/2026 3:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Friday, Nov. 6 | 6 p.m. | Elma Roane Fieldhouse | Memphis, Tenn. |
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MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS 1-0, 0-0 CUSA |
at | MEMPHIS TIGERS 1-0, 0-0 AAC |
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| WATCH: ESPN+ | STATS: LINK | RADIO: WGNS (LINK) | MEDIA CENTER: LINK | ||||
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee is set for its first road trip of the 2026-27 season when it travels to Memphis on Friday, Nov. 6, to face the Tigers inside Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. The game will air on the Blue Raider Network and broadcast on ESPN+.
GAME 2
» Friday, November 2 - 6 p.m.
» Elma Roane Fieldhouse
» Memphis, Tennessee
SERIES HISTORY
» This marks the 22nd meeting in series history between the Blue Raiders and Tigers.
» The Blue Raiders lead the series 13-8.
» Last season, MTSU defeated Memphis 60-51 at the Murphy Center. A pair of Blue Raiders scored double figures, while Blair Baugus posted a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double.
BLUE RAIDER NOTES
» Matt Insell was named the eighth head coach in Middle Tennessee women's basketball history following the retirement of his father, Rick Insell, after the 2025-26 season. A Shelbyville, Tennessee, native, Matt returned to his alma mater in 2018 and spent the previous four seasons as associate head coach. He previously served as head coach at Ole Miss for five seasons and as an assistant at Kentucky, helping the Wildcats reach four NCAA Tournaments, including three Elite Eights. Since returning to MTSU, he has helped lead the Blue Raiders to three NCAA Tournament appearances and a 2022 WNIT semifinal run.
» The Blue Raiders opened their 52nd season with a 91-84 overtime win over Saint Louis, led by four players in double figures. Blair Baugus posted 23 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double, while Mya Kone added 20 points and nine rebounds. Xai Whitfield scored 12 points in her Blue Raider debut, and Kirston Verhulst chipped in 10 points and four steals.
» Senior Mya Kone and sophomore Blair Baugus were named to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team. Kone joins MTSU after two seasons at FIU, where she earned CUSA Sixth Player of the Year honors in 2023-24 and was named the 2024-25 CUSA Preseason Player of the Year. She averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in 2023-24, leading FIU in all three categories. Baugus returns after a standout freshman season in which she earned CUSA First Team All-Conference, Freshman of the Year and All-Freshman Team honors. She also earned eight Player of the Week awards, averaging 13.5 points and a team-high 9.2 rebounds per game while recording 15 double-doubles.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
» Memphis enters the 2026-27 season following a 10-21 campaign (4-14 AAC) and was picked to finish ninth in the American Preseason Poll. The Tigers enter a new era under first-year head coach Hana Haden, who takes the reins of a Memphis squad featuring four returners and eight newcomers.
» Memphis welcomes back guards Daejah Richmond and Jordan Hunter, along with forwards Tamya Smith and Bailey Gilmore. Richmond returns after leading the Tigers in scoring last season, while Smith led the team in rebounding. Richmond and Smith were both named to the 2026-27 American Conference Preseason All-Conference Second Team
» Haden bolstered the roster through the transfer portal with the additions of Anjanae Richardson, Khyra Garrett, Tierney Kelsey, Lily Melton, Ainaya Williams, Seda Gabrielyan and Destiny Thomas. Freshman Aubrey Hampton rounds out the eight newcomers.
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).
