Middle Tennessee women’s basketball (12-10, 7-3 CUSA) kept their hold on the Conference USA No. 2 seed after a 60–54 road loss to Missouri State University (14-8,6-3 CUSA) on Thursday, marking the Lady Raiders’ fifth loss away from home this season.
After a slow first half, Middle Tennessee was unable to recover as junior Missouri State guard Kaemyn Bekemeier led the Bears with a career-high 25 points, helping secure the win.
“We didn’t have the urgency early like we had late in the fourth quarter, and I think if we had that earlier, we would’ve been in better shape,” MTSU head coach Rick Insell said on WGNS Radio postgame. “I’m not disappointed in our kids. When you don’t shoot the ball well, you get beat especially in another man’s gym.”
Middle Tennessee entered the matchup looking to secure its third consecutive win and sixth road victory following its win over Western Kentucky University earlier in the week. However, early shooting struggles proved costly, as the Lady Raiders fell behind in the first half and were unable to close the gap down the stretch.
The Lady Raiders went 17-of-47 from the field and 7-of-17 from the three-point line. Middle Tennessee won the first quarter 14-11, with freshman Blair Baugus gaining nine points and two rebounds to lead the Lady Raiders in the first.
After the first quarter, MTSU suffered a three-minute scoring drought while Missouri State came alive with a 9-0 run ultimately giving them the lead.
Middle Tennessee stayed within striking distance during the second despite Missouri State shooting just 50% from the free-throw line early, while the Lady Raiders opened the game a perfect from the line.
With emotions running high on both sides fouls began to pile up, sending both teams to the free-throw line. Moments later, Bekemeier capped the third quarter by knocking down a three-pointer to reach 20 points.
“I think more than anything it wasn’t about us scoring 60,” Missouri State head coach Beth Cunningham said in a post-game interview with ESPN. “We got to hold them in the 50s, and I felt that was going to be a huge key for us.”
MTSU senior guard Alayna Contreras broke out late, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter after a quiet start. Middle Tennessee converted its final five shots of the game, with Contreras accounting for four of them. She knocked down back-to-back three-pointers in the closing minutes to cut Missouri State’s lead to six.
After freshman Macie Phifer fouled out late in the fourth quarter, Missouri State capitalized at the free-throw line down the stretch. Despite shooting 65% from the line, the Bears converted enough of their attempts in the closing moments to secure the home victory.
The Lady Raiders will head to Miami to face the fifth-seed, Florida International University Panthers (13-7, 6-3 CUSA) in their next matchup on Saturday, at 12 p.m. CT.
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