Lady Toppers Fall to Middle Tennessee

Saturday, February 3

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

2 PM

Western Kentucky University

13-10,4-4CUSA

Middle Tennessee

17-4,7-0CUSA

Western Ky.

Middle Tenn.

2/3/2024 4:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — WKU women's basketball (13-10, 4-4 CUSA) fell to Middle Tennessee (17-4, 7-0 CUSA) on Saturday afternoon in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

WKU was led in scoring by Destiny Salary with 17 points along with five rebounds. Aaliyah Pitts added seven points, pulled down six rebounds and dished out two assists.

Junior point guard Alexis Mead left the game midway through the second quarter due to illness and did not return.

Middle Tennessee scored the first points of the game on a pair of free throws just 14 seconds into the game. WKU went on a 5-2 scoring run to take a lead with 8:11 left in the quarter. The Blue Raiders responded with a 16-0 run. Salary ended the run with a hook shot in the paint. After another Middle Tennessee bucket, Salary scored again on a free throw to bring the score to 22-8 going into the second quarter.

Salary made a three to start the second quarter, cutting the Middle Tennessee lead down to 11. After four straight points from the Blue Raiders, Pitts made a three to get it back to 12. The Lady Toppers withstood another 4-0 run by Middle Tennessee with a 4-0 run of their own to get back within 12 again. From there the Blue Raiders outscored WKU 10-4 with seven of those 10 points coming from the free throw line. Middle Tennessee went shot 12 free throw shots in the second quarter and 18 in the first half.

The Lady Toppers and Middle Tennessee were even in the third quarter, both teams scoring 16 in the frame. After a basket from Middle Tennessee to start the quarter, WKU went on a 5-0 run powered by a jumper from Odeth Betancourt and a three from Josie Gilvin. Both teams went back-and-forth, but WKU rattled off four straight points with 2:49 left. From there, scoring 6-4 Middle Tennessee.

In the fourth quarter, the Blue Raiders outscored WKU 24-10.

Middle Tennessee shot 45 percent from the field (25-55), 36 percent from three (9-25) and 72 percent from the free throw line (21-29). On the flip side, WKU shot 30 percent from the field (19-63), 17 percent from three (4-24) and 55 percent from the free throw line (6-11).

WKU will be back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 7 against Louisiana Tech in E.A. Diddle Arena. It will be the Lady Toppers' annual Play4Kay Pink Game.

How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on Lady Topper Hoops, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @LadyTopperHoops on X, @LadyTopperHoops on Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball.