HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Middle Tennessee women’s basketball (16-15, 11-8 CUSA) fell to Missouri State University (20-12, 12-7 CUSA) in a Conference USA quarterfinals nailbiter.
The Lady Raiders rallied late for a chance to win but fell 69-66 in the program’s earliest Conference USA Tournament exit since the 2017-18 season.
“I am very proud of our basketball team,” head coach Rick Insell said. “We played like that all year, a lot of people, except for the coaches and team, thought we were out of it. I knew we were still in it and had a couple shots to tie it. I am awfully proud of your basketball team.”
Despite the end result, senior guard Alayna Contreras put the Lady Raiders on her back, scoring 24 points, including two three-pointers to bring MTSU within one possession near the end of regulation.
The Lady Raiders couldn’t find offensive production in the first quarter, with four turnovers, shooting 35.7% from the field compared to the Bears 56.3%.
MTSU started its turnover struggles at tipoff, with another later by Contreras, leading to the Bears’ first points of the game.
After freshman guard Blair Baugus tied the score, 2-2, Missouri State forced a turnover from Macie Phifer to score a three-point jumper.
Baugus hit a three-foot jumper to end MTSU’s scoring drought at the end of the quarter.
The Lady Raiders jumped out to a positive start in the second quarter, with a block by Baugus, multiple defensive rebounds, a steal and four points.
Missouri State answered back with two scoring possessions before turnover and foul troubles started to plague the Lady Raiders.
With 5:55 remaining in the second quarter, MTSU guard Carsyn Swaney took a hard hit to the face by Lady Bear Tyra Robinson. The official review deemed the hit a common foul. Lady Raider guard Savannah Davis subbed in for Swaney and knocked down both free throws to cut the lead to 24-19.
The Lady Bears took their largest lead of the game, 33-19, with 3:37 left in the quarter.
Middle Tennessee answered back with a five-point run led by Contreras and Baugus to cut the lead 35-26 before poor defense allowed an easy layup for the Bears.
With 22 seconds left in the half, MSU power forward Kaemyn Bekemeire fouled Swaney, who made both free throws to trail 35-28.
The Lady Bears carried over their hot shooting at 70% into the third quarter, while MTSU continued to suffer from turnovers.
The Lady Bears jumped out to a four-point run to start the final quarter, before Contreras hit a jumper to end Missouri’s streak.
Following a missed layup from Phifer at the 4:17 mark, Missouri State’s Faith Lee pushed Phifer in the neck. MTSU used a successful coaches challenge as the refs determined the play was a flagrant one foul. The Lady Raiders retained possession as Contreras made a pair of successful free throws.
With 45 seconds remaining, Contreras scored on a 24-foot three-point jumper to bring the Lady Raiders to a one-possession game.
MSU’s Kendal Brueggen stole the ball and converted on an and-one off a foul on Phifer.
Down 69-63, Contreras converted another clutch three to bring the Lady Raiders within one possession.
On the other end, Swaney fouled Brueggen who missed both free throws, keeping MTSU within reach.
Missouri State held onto a three-point lead over the Lady Raiders though, as MTSU failed to get up a game winning shot, losing 69-66.
While the Lady Raiders’ Conference USA Championship and NCAA tournament dreams were dashed, Middle Tennessee awaits a potential invite to an alternative postseason tournament.
“This is not over,” Baugus said of the team’s late-game mentality. “It’s what we have done this entire season; we can’t ever give up. We got to believe in ourselves, and we know that our coaches will believe in us as well.”
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