Featured photo by Preston Todd
Story by Calvin White
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After a regular season that ended with a 26-4 overall record and a 16-0 record in conference play, Middle Tennessee women’s basketball heads to Huntsville, Ala. this week for the Conference USA Tournament. The Lady Raiders will play the winner of the UTEP/Sam Houston game on Wednesday at 11:30 at Propst Arena.
MTSU is 4-0 against UTEP and Sam Houston this season, beating UTEP by scores of 81-70 and 56-41 while defeating Sam Houston twice 87-55 and 93-62. The closest game MTSU played of the four matchups with UTEP and Sam Houston was the 81-70 game against UTEP in Murfreesboro. MTSU’s offense carried it to a win after only leading by five at halftime but the lady Raiders outscored UTEP 46-40 in the second half. CUSA Newcomer of the Year Jane Asinde scored 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting.
The Lady Raiders had four players in double-figure scoring in that game. Savannah Wheeler scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds, Ta’Mia Scott recorded 16 points and seven rebounds, Courtney Whitson and Jalynn Gregory scored 14 apiece.
UTEP is 2-0 against Sam Houston this season with wins by five and 16 points respectively. The Miners won by 16 on the road at Sam Houston which bodes well for their chances in a neutral-site environment. It is hard to beat teams three times in one season so whoever MTSU faces will be looking to take down the juggernaut of Conference USA but UTEP is most likely going to be MTSU’s first opponent in Huntsville.
The Miners are the third-best offense in CUSA, scoring just over 67 points per game on average. However, UTEP is the second-to-worst defensive team in the league, allowing 71.5 points per game to opponents.
MTSU’s two games against the Miners have looked totally different. The first matchup between the two teams in Murfreesboro was a high-scoring affair where MTSU needed to unleash every bit of its offensive firepower to win. In the game in El Paso, MTSU led 42-41 with 6:12 remaining in the fourth quarter and held UTEP scoreless for the remainder of the game to win 56-41. MTSU can win games with its offense or defense and the Miners are far too familiar with the Lady Raiders’ duality.
In the two games against Sam Houston, MTSU has beaten the Bearkats by an average of 31.5 points. Back on Jan. 13, MTSU defeated Sam Houston on the road 87-55 and six Lady raiders scored in double figures. MTSU tied its season-high of 34 made field goals and 22 assists in the win. In the second matchup on Mar. 2, MTSU tied its season-high in points with 93 in a 93-62 drubbing of the Bearkats.
Although MTSU is just the fourth team in CUSA history to escape league play unscathed, the Lady Raiders have a target on their back entering the CUSA Tournament. Even then, MTSU has proven to have no problems with either opponent it could possibly face.
Calvin White is the sports editor for MTSU Sidelines. For more news, visit www.mtsusidelines.com, and follow us on Facebook at MTSU Sidelines and on X and Instagram at @mtsusidelines. Also, sign up for our weekly newsletter here.
