Middle Tennessee women’s basketball (14-12, 9-5 CUSA) fell short against the Western Kentucky Lady Toppers (7-18, 3-11 CUSA) 70-65 in the final regular season installment of the 100 Miles of Hate series in women’s basketball.
Both teams failed to find an offensive rhythm in the first quarter of the contest, as both teams ended the period in single digits, combining for only six field goals, including shooting 0-of-12 from three-point range.
“We had no energy,” head coach Rick Insell said on WGNS radio’s postgame show. “We didn’t have any energy in the huddle. We didn’t have any energy on the floor.”
The Hilltoppers’ man-oriented defensive scheme disrupted the Lady Raiders’ offense, as they ended the period with more turnovers than field goals made.
Both teams eclipsed their first quarter point totals within five minutes of the second quarter as the offensive production improved. Sophomore guard Trinity Rowe led the way for WKU with 15 points, including four three-pointers, en route to a season high 18 points on an efficient 5-of-8 from the field. Senior forward Mya Pratcher also tacked on five points in the second, as the Lady Toppers extended their lead to nine at the half.
MTSU freshman guard Blair Baugus commandeered the offense in the second quarter with eight points and crashed the boards with eight rebounds. Baugus ended the contest with 13 points and 12 rebounds, her 11th double-double of the season, as well as three steals.
Following a season-high 28-point performance against Kenesaw State, senior guard Alayna Contreras struggled to replicate that shooting performance, ending with six points on 2-of-7 shooting. The Lady Raiders got a surge of help from their freshman, Kirston Verhulst and CUSA Freshman of the Week Macie Phifer who finished in double-figure points, with Phifer recording a season-high 21 points on 6-of-15 shooting.
The Lady Raiders also got very valuable minutes off the bench from yet another freshman, Carsyn Sweeney, who scored eight points, one board, and two assists off the bench in 16 minutes.
“Carsyn did a good job,” Insell said. “I was really proud and she came in and did what she did. She played hard on the defensive end.”
WKU picked up steam in the 2nd half, on the back of a 9-0 run midway through the third quarter to extend its lead to as many as 20. Sophomore guard Salma Khedr found her stride in the second half after early foul trouble, contributing 14 points in the third quarter, en route to a team-high 20 points. The Lady Toppers capitalized on the Lady Raiders’ mistakes, scoring 19 of their 70 points off turnovers.
The Lady Raiders clawed their way back into the contest in the fourth quarter on the back of a 9-0 run to cut the lead to as few as five with 5:30 left to play. Later, a pair of free throws from Phifer cut the lead to three with 2:30 minutes to play, as she would finish the quarter with 14 points.
However, the Hilltoppers’ advantage entering the final quarter proved too much, and a three-point deficit would be as close as it got as the Hilltoppers secured the win.
“Overall, I was proud of how they played in the 4th quarter,” Insell said.“I just thought we didn’t have any energy, and we couldn’t muster up any energy.”
The Lady Raiders remain on the road for their next contest against the Liberty Flames on Feb. 26, with a tipoff set for 6 p.m. CDT.
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