FINAL, MTSU falls to Delaware 61-48

The Lady Raiders fall in head coach Rick Insell’s first opportunity to win his 500th career game to the University of Delaware Blue Hens, 61-48.

UD was led by the scoring combination of Andre’a Cherisier and Ella Wanzer with 18 and 12 points each. The Fightin’ Blue Hens took advantage of a poor shooting night by MTSU, holding the Lady Raiders to 17-of-57 from the field.

Alayna Contreras led MTSU in scoring with 14 points, while freshman Nicole Dominguez had a strong night with nine points and eight rebounds.

MTSU will be back in action tomorrow night, taking on Liberty University inside the Murphy Center with a 6:30 p.m. CDT tipoff. Insell will once again be searching for his 500th win.

Q4 0:30 UD leads 61-48

It looks as though the Lady Raiders will come up short tonight in the quest for Insell’s 500th win despite a fourth quarter surge. Dominguez is up to nine points while Contreras has 14.

Q4 5:41, UD leads 56-36

Delaware’s Kolleigbo adds a pair of free throws for the Hens to grow the lead back to 20 points before head coach Sarah Jenkins uses a timeout.

Q4 6:33, UD leads 54-36

Lady Raiders have opened up the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run to keep the door open for a comeback. Freshman Nicole Dominguez has played a large part in the run with five points while Phifer has added four points to the effort.

END Q3, UD leads MTSU 51-25

Delaware’s defense held the Lady Raiders to two points in the third quarter, including no made field goals. Overall, UD outscored MTSU 16-2 in the frame.

Middle Tennessee is shooting 20% from the field as a team on the night, while the Blue Hens are operating at a 43% clip. The Lady Raiders are going to need an incredible fourth quarter to find Insell’s 500th win tonight.

Q3 4:40– UD leads 47-24

The Fightin’ Blue Hens are a point away from doubling up on the Lady Raiders on the first potential opportunity for Insell’s 500th career win.

UD is on a 10-1 run to start the quarter, with MTSU’s only point coming from a Phifer free throw. The Lady Raiders are shooting just 8-of-33 from the field so far tonight.

HALFTIME- UD leads MTSU 35-23 at the break.

The Blue Hens came out on fire in the first 20 minutes, shooting 15-of-30 from the field and 5-of-11 from behind the arc. Cherisier is having a strong night with 14 points on seven makes for UD.

MTSU has not had the same luck offensively, shooting 8-of-29 as a group. Contreras has seven points and Davis has six.

The Lady Raiders are outrebounding the Blue Hens 21 to 14, with ten of those being offensive rebounds. MTSU’s poor shooting paired with 14 turnovers in 20 minutes has handcuffed them to trail by 12 at the break.

Q2 4:00- UD leads 31-20

MTSU has slowed down Delaware’s offense, holding Cherisher scoreless in the second quarter. The Hens’ offense has had to turn to Trinity Vance, who has two three-pointers in the period.

On the offensive end for the Lady Raiders, Contreras is leading the way with seven points while Baugus has four points and three rebounds.

Q1 6:19: UD leads 8-2

The Lady Raiders have fallen behind early with a six-point deficit at the first media timeout. Baugus has MTSU’s lone basket, while Cherisier has come out hot for the Hens with all eight points.

Contreras is 0-of-4 from the field, including two three-point attempts. MTSU is 1-of-7 as a whole.

Pregame- Starters have been announced for both sides.

MTSU

G Alayna Contreras

G Kirston Verhulst

G Blair Baugus

G Savannah Davis

G Macie Phifer

UD

G Lay Fantroy

G Kaliah Correa

G Ella Wanzer

G Safi Kolliegbo

C Andre’a Cherisier