LADY RAIDER BB Middle Tennessee (17-4, 7-0) vs Liberty U (10-13, 5-3) Thursday 02-08, 6:30 pm. Murphy Center, ESPN+

[MTFAN61]

MT comes into Thursday night's game on a 7 game winning streak. Liberty comes in playing its best ball of the year on a 4 game win streak itself. Middle Tennessee's defense will face one of its biggest challenges of the year containing 6' 6" Liberty center Bella Smuda. Smuda just led Liberty with 27 points all in the paint to an 87-68 win over UTEP at home. She also is an excellent shot blocker with 50 blocks in her sophomore campaign last year.
While Liberty is playing its best ball currently they are also 2-9 on the road including a 0-3 record in neutral site games.
Liberty is used to playing in front of a home crowd of 600-700 fans. MT should bring in another 3,500-4,000 into tonight's game. Will be interesting to see how the Flames react to one of the biggest crowds they are likely to play in front of all year.

 

[MidTennFootball]

MT isn't even the top 5 of teams Liberty has played this year, dont think theyll be intimidated. Middle might win by 25-30, but this Liberty team worries me. Very young team that had a baptism by fire and is starting to figure things out. Only 1 senior on their team, should be interesting the next few years

 

[MTFAN61]

MT isn't even the top 5 of teams Liberty has played this year, dont think theyll be intimidated. Middle might win by 25-30, but this Liberty team worries me. Very young team that had a baptism by fire and is starting to figure things out. Only 1 senior on their team, should be interesting the next few years

You're right. Just looked at their schedule. Texas, Louisville, NC State, Tennessee, Richmond & so forth. When talking about teams in our conference padding their schedules with cupcakes we certainly can't include Liberty. Their schedule has even been more difficult than ours. Trial by fire is very apt.

 

[SpaceRaider]

Lady Raiders set to host Lady Flames - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Thursday, Feb. 8 | 6:30 p.m. | Murphy Center | Murfreesboro, Tenn. MIDDLE TENNESSEE LADY RAIDERS 17-4,

goblueraiders.com

 

[MTFAN61]

At the half in Bowling Green La Tech leading Westurd 36-22.

 

[Blue Raider Lightning]

La Tech folds like a lawn chair in the 2nd half and falls 64-56.

 

[SpaceRaider]

WBB Game Day: Middle Tennessee - Liberty University

Game Day Coverage Liberty at Middle Tennessee (Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn.) Tipoff: Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT TV: ESP...

libertyflames.com

 

[SpaceRaider]

 

[MTOleBlue]

I hope we destroy them tonight. Let's make our NET ranking even better... an added benefit of a blowout win!

 

[MTOleBlue]

GREAT halftime feature on Anastasiia and Iullia

 

[MTOleBlue]

FINAL: 81-55. Good win. Gonna be a tough rematch. Liberty has the 2nd-best NET in the conference after ours.

 

[Hop45]

Was a tight first half. Our conditioning was on display 2nd half. Liberty got tired and their hot shooting early faded.

 

[MTFAN61]

Middle needed a game like this where they were pushed & challenged. The first half felt like a high quality NCAA tournament game. Behind Smuda Liberty came out ready to play. Looked like Boldyreva took it personal, & made some of her best scoring moves of the year. Great to see Iullia on the floor making plays again. When they're both focused our 2 post players are game changers. One of the things I like about this team compared to last year's squad is Wheeler's improved steadiness & control of the the point guard position. She's owning it now. As mentioned above our conditioning & physicality wore them down by the 3rd quarter. You could feel momentum changing at end of 2nd.
Another great crowd of over 4,500.
Saturday will be a rainy afternoon, but would love to see us break the 5,000 attendance mark. Look for us to jump Another spot or two in the NET tomorrow. The closer we get to a ranking in the 30's the closer we get to becoming an at large team instead of just an AQ.

 

[SpaceRaider]

 

[SpaceRaider]

Lady Raiders snuff out Lady Flames 81-55 - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee women's basketball battled through early runs from Liberty, but won the battle of halftime adjustments, outscoring the Flames

goblueraiders.com

 

[SpaceRaider]

Hot-Shooting Middle Tennessee Defeats Liberty, 81-55 - Liberty University

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Led by 20-point games from Anastasiia Boldyreva and Savannah Wheeler, hot-shooting Middle Tennessee posted an 81-55 victory over Libe...

libertyflames.com

 

[SpaceRaider]

 

[SpaceRaider]

 

[MTOleBlue]

Man that one felt good for a lot of reasons. Loved Anastasiia's big smile in the second half... she IS the best center in CUSA and one of the best in all of NCAA WBB!