MTSU women’s basketball (15-14, 10-7 CUSA) first overtime game of the year did not disappoint as Middle Tennessee and Florida International University (18-10, 11-6 CUSA) went into double overtime.
MTSU’s Alayna Contreras had the ball in her hands for the final possession of the second overtime period. The senior came down the court, finding her spot on the right elbow and put up a shot that she has hit numerous times.
This time the shot fell short, bouncing off the front rim.
Freshman Carsyn Swaney grabbed the offensive rebound before turning the ball over to end the game.
“Knowing that we can play with these teams, we proved it and just remembering how we feel right now so we don’t feel that again,” Contreras said.
Head coach Rick Insell told the team in overtime to get to the line and play strong, Contreras said.
The first overtime ended in almost the exact same manner as Contreras’, once again near the right elbow, shot fell short of the hoop.
Each quarter flip-flopped from the previous as Middle Tennessee controlled the first and third quarters, while Florida International won the second and fourth quarters.
“They just got into us and took us out of our offenses,” Insell said. “It took us a little while to get back in them. We made some plays and then we lost it again. There were some possessions out there that we called something, and we went to something else. We were all mixed up. We didn’t know what we’re doing.”
Foul trouble became an issue for both teams as three FIU starters fouled out along with MTSU’s Blair Baugus and Kirston Verhulst.
Baugus’ foul trouble started in the first half as she picked up her third foul with 3:05 left. Insell elected to go to Gracie Hamby off the bench to replace Baugus.
Hamby finished the night playing 11 minutes, a career high, along with three points. The biggest factor off the bench was Swaney who played for 27 minutes. The freshman replaced guard Savannah Davis, who sat for all but three minutes after halftime.
FIU’s Parris Atkins and Rhema Collins both fouled out in the fourth quarter along with Judit Valero in the second overtime period. Collins, Atkins and Valero are the team’s first, second and fourth leading scorers of the season.
Collins led the Panthers against Middle Tennessee with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
“We had two of their best players, all conference players out, and their role players took it to us,” Insell said.
The loss, alongside the rest of the Conference USA slate, moved the Lady Raiders from a three-way tie for second place into a three-way tie for third with Sam Houston State University and Liberty University.
MTSU’s final regular season game against Missouri State University on Saturday determines where the team falls in the CUSA standings. The Lady Raiders’ possible seed is between third and sixth in the conference tournament.
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