Featured photo by Erin Douglas
Story by Calvin White
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HUNTSVILLE, Ala- Blue and white confetti rained from the Propst Arena rafters after Middle Tennessee women’s basketball won its third Conference USA Tournament title in four years with a convincing 67-51 win over Liberty to punch its ticket back to the NCAA Tournament.
Offense was scarce to begin the game, with the two teams shooting a combined 7-of-35 as the first quarter ended with Liberty leading 8-7.
The Lady Raiders turned it on in the second quarter by outscoring Liberty 22-9 behind a 10-0 run in the middle of the frame after Iullia Grabovskaia checked into the game and MTSU dominated the interior on offense and defense. MTSU took a 29-17 lead into the halftime break.
Just like the first two matchups between the two teams, Boldyreva and Liberty post player Bella Smuda battled blow-for-blow underneath the basket. Boldyreva finished with 21 points and six rebounds while Smuda finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Smuda and Boldyreva each showed off their advanced footwork and finishing abilities around the basket.
Savannah Wheeler, Anastasiia Boldyreva and Jalynn Gregory were named to the CUSA All-Tournament team and Wheeler was named CUSA Tournament MVP after a 15-point, 9-assist night against the Flames while averaging 15.6 points, 6.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds over three tournament games.
After the game, the Lady Raiders, along with their fans, rushed the Propst Arena court to partake in postgame ceremonies. Wheeler jumped on top of a table on radio row facing the MTSU section of fans and raised her arms in celebration. After all, that’s why she transferred to MTSU.
“A lot of teams, a lot of coaches in the conference don’t know what we go through outside of everything,” Wheeler said. “We go hard in practice and our coaches push us every single day. We’re not lucky. We spend hours and hours going at each other competing.”
Ta’Mia Scott’s growth from her freshman year to her sophomore year was one of the biggest reasons MTSU is in the position it is. Scott waited her turn and exploded onto the scene this season and showed all of Conference USA that she belonged.
Scott scored 16 points, grabbed five rebounds and blocked three shots.
“It was more of a relief to know I was part of something,” Scott said. “Last year, I watched all the starting five do their thing and I knew my time was going to come. This year feels different. I’m so much more appreciative of it because I worked so hard for it.”
Although Scott did not make the All-Tournament team, her impact cannot be measured by a box score. MTSU head coach Rick Insell called Scott to the front of the celebrations to allow her to punch the Lady Raiders’ ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
In the win, MTSU became just the second school in CUSA history to go undefeated in the regular season and win the CUSA Tournament, joining 2018-19 Rice.
The Lady Raiders dominated just about everybody they played throughout the course of the season, now they await their opponent in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. MTSU has not advanced to the second round of the Big Dance since 2007 when it beat Gonzaga 85-46 before losing to Marist.
MTSU proved that it belongs in college basketball’s premier event. Now, the Lady Raiders look to make some noise, no matter the opponent.
“We’re not through,” Insell said. “This bunch right here, they’re not afraid to play anybody. I don’t care if it’s South Carolina. It doesn’t make any difference. They might be taller or have more lateral quickness but you watch this little group, you can’t measure their heart.”
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.
