BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Fourth-seeded Middle Tennessee went on an torrid run in the first half, as the Lady Raiders cruised to an 81-66 quarterfinal win Sunday at the 2004 Aropostale Sun Belt Conference Women’s Championships at E.A. Diddle Arena.
With the win, MT (21-7) advances to Monday’s 11 a.m. semifinal game against No. 8 Denver.
Junior forward Patrice Holmes led the Lady Raiders with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Chrissy Givens added 18 points and was 7-of-9 from the floor. Tia Stovall contributed 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
North Texas (11-17) was led by sophomore forward Jamie Armstrong, who had 19 points.
The game was never in doubt, as the Lady Raiders jumped out to a 28-7 lead.
In the first half, MT forced 16 turnovers and helped its own cause by shooting 80 percent from the free throw line.
The Mean Green lost their first-ever first-round contest since joining the Sun Belt (previously 3-0).
MT’s win marks the first victory by a higher-seeded women’s team so far.
