Final: MTSU 51 Belmont 64

Middle Tennessee fell to Belmont to close out the Lady Raiders WBIT trip and season. MTSU’s offense struggled throughtout the night with a drought of over eight minutes in the first half at one point. Belmont shot nearly 40% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc to win 64-51.

Middle Tennessee leaders:

Points: Ta’Mia Scott – 16 points

Rebounds: Anastasiia Boldyreva – 10 rebounds

Assists: Anastasiia Boldyreva and Courtney Blakely – three assists

Belmont leaders

Points: Kendall Holmes – 12 points

Rebounds: Kendal Cheesman – 12 rebounds

Assists: Tuti Jones – four assists

4:52 Q4: Belmont extended the lead to 20 points by the fourth quarter media timeout, 59-39. The Bruins have 39 rebounds, 11 offensive rebounds leading to 10 points.

End 3Q: Belmont lead by 19 points at the end of the third quarter, 52-33. The Lady Raiders went cold in the third quarter shooting 26% and 0-5 from beyond the arc.

4:32 Q3: Belmont extended the lead to 13 points, while MTSU ended their scoring drought on a Blakely layup.

7:46 Q3: Jalynn Gregory returned for the Lady Raiders with a wrap around her left knee. The MTSU coaches’ first play of the half was for Gregory who was tripped before getting a shot attempt. Middle Tennessee last field goal was with 8:19 left in the second quarter with the drought at 10:33.

End Q2: Belmont led 33-25 going into halftime, scoring 12 unanswered points. The second half ended with a foul call sending MTSU’s Ta’Mia Scott to the line where she ended the Lady Raider scoring drought that lasted eight plus minutes. Lady Raider guard, Jalynn Gregory sat the second part of the quarter, and was looked at by medical staff, after trying to take a charge.

Middle Tennessee leaders:

Points: Ta’Mia Scott – 10 points

Rebounds: Anastasiia Boldyreva – six rebounds

Assists: Four players tied – one assist

Belmont leaders:

Points: Tuti Jones – nine points

Rebounds: Kendal Cheesman – eight rebounds

Assists: – Three players tied – two assists

4:41 Q2: Belmont gained the lead at the media timeout with a score of 24-23. The Bruins held MTSU scoreless for the last three minutes. MTSU head coach Rick Insell has switched to a smaller lineup with Elina Arike on the bench and either Savannah Davis or Jada Harrison in as a third guard.

End Q1: The Lady Raiders hold a one point lead over the Bruins, 17-16. Boldyreva led MTSU in the first quarter with eight points all inside the paint. Cheesman, returned to the game, and Tuti Jones led Belmont with six points each.

4:45 Q1: MTSU led going into the media timeout, 13-9. Both sides traded early baskets tied 9-9 until Blakely and Anastasiia Boldyreva hit back-to-back layups. Belmont’s Kendal Cheesman subbed out after a tough fall and is yet to return.