End Q4: The Missouri State Lady Bears held on to a three point win over MTSU as the Lady Raiders failed to get a game tying shot attempt up at the end of regulation.

Q4: 26.5: Alayna Contreras continues to put the Lady Raiders on her back as she knocks down another three to keep MTSU in the game. Missouri State’s ball with 26 seconds left on their end of the court.

Q4 34.1: Middle Tennessee seemed to have all the momentum with Macie Phifer stealing the ball at mid-court. On the pass out to Alayna Contreras, Contreras trips giving the ball back to Missouri State who scores an and-one layup to go up 69-63.

Q4: 44.3: Alayna Contreras cut the lead to three points with a dagger from deep. Missouri State in the bonus right now as the Lady Raiders try to mount a comeback to advance to the semifinals.

Q4 4:17: The officials have gone to the review board for the second time this game after a Macie Phifer layup. Missouri State’s Faith Lee pushed Phifer in the neck area. The refs determined it was a flagrant one foul and Alayna Contreras hit both to cut the lead to 62-56.

Q4 5:14: Kirston Verhulst fouled out, bringing Yu Han Lin into the game to split point guard duty. MTSU then came out in a trap defense forcing a turnover and Missouri State foul to cut the lead to eight.

Q4 6:10: MTSU hasn’t been able to limit the turnovers as Missouri State has forced 12 which turned into 19 points. In the waning seconds of the timeout, Rick and Matt Insell pulled the starters onto the floor and drew up a specific set to come out with.

End Q3: Missouri State has held its lead through three quarters of play extending it to 11 points, 55-46. The Lady Bears have moved the ball around with three players in double digits with. On the Lady Raiders’ side Alayna Contreras and Blair Baugus are the only players in double digits with Savannah Davis in third with five points.

Q3 5:20: Missouri State came out of half on a heater shooting 50%, continuing to hold its seven point lead. Associate head coach Matt Insell said in the timeout that somebody has to go make a play to stay in the game.

Halftime: Missouri State leads 35-28 going into the break. Alayna Contreras pulled the Lady Raiders within seven points with a three-point basket. The Lady Bears have controlled the offensive boards with six rebounds turning into nine second chance points.

MTSU leaders:

Points: 12, Alayna Contreras

Rebounds: 7, Blair Baugus

Assists: 1, Blair Baugus

Missouri State leaders:

Points: 10, Faith Lee

Rebounds: 5, Maiesha Washington

Assists: 5, Maiesha Washington

Q2: 3:35: Insell calls a timeout after a Bekemeier knockdown three to extend the Lady Bears lead to 14 points, 33-19.

Q2 5:55: MTSU guard Carsyn Swaney took a hard foul to the face from Tyra Robinson that led into a media timeout. Officials reviewed the foul and determined it was a common foul. Savannah Davis subbed in for Swaney and knocked down both free throws to cut the lead to 24-19.

Q2 7:31: Insell subbed in Yu Han Lin who forced a steal and went coast-to-coast for an easy lay-in. MTSU trails 22-17.

End Q1: The Lady Bears continue to knock down shots, hitting 56.3% from the field while the Lady Raiders sit at 35.7%. Missouri State’s James and Douglas both have two fouls through the first 10 minutes which could open the paint for Middle Tennessee.

MTSU leaders:

Points: 8, Blair Baugus

Rebounds: 3, Blair Baugus

Assists: 1, Blair Baugus

Missouri State leaders:

Points: 8, JaNyla Bush

Rebounds: 3, Maiesha Washington

Assists: 4, Maiesha Washington

Q1 4:14: MTSU found itself in a hole down 13-7 against Missouri State at the first media timeout. The Lady Bears have hit their shots early going 6-of-9 from the field while slowing down the Lady Raiders. Head coach Rick Insell subbed in Savannah Davis for Carsyn Swaney.

Pregame: MTSU head coach Rick Insell decided to keep freshman Carsyn Swaney in the starting lineup over Savannah Davis.

MTSU starters:

Guard Alayna Contreras

Guard Carysn Swaney

Guard Kirston Verhulst

Guard Blair Baugus

Guard Macie Phifer

Missouri State starters:

Guard Kaemyn Bekemeier

Guard Maycee James

Forward Maiesha Washington

Forward Lainie Douglas

Forward Faith Lee