By Layne Weitzel, TTU Sports Information
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech women's basketball hits the road this week for its first away contest of the season at in-state rival Middle Tennessee.
The game tips off Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. CT in the Blue Raiders' Murphy Center.
Tech is coming off a season-opening 84-66 win over Tennessee Wesleyan in which four Golden Eagles scored in double-digits. Two of them, Kesha Brady and Jordan Brock, combined for 41 points in their Tech debuts. The team also hit 11 3-pointers, tying for their most in a game in nearly four years.
While Tech's offense was impressive, other areas of its game lacked.
"Defense and rebounding is what is going to win you games, and then getting to the free throw line and knocking down free throws," said Rosamond at the postgame press conference on Friday. "We were a little deficient in all three of those areas tonight, and we've got to get a lot better quickly."
Middle Tennessee will be one of Tech's best nonconference tests this season. The Blue Raiders, 2017 WNIT participants, have already upset Vanderbilt in Nashville in their season opener last Friday 65-54. MTSU also was tops in Conference USA last season in field goal percentage (.444) and ranked second in 3-point percentage (.364).
"You're talking about a championship program, so it will be a great atmosphere and they'll have a great crowd," said Rosamond. "All Middle knows is winning. They're a championship program year in and year out. Our defensive effort and our rebounding effort has got to be much better. We've also got to handle their pressure. We've got our work cut out for us, but I'm also really excited. I'm excited to take this group to compete and to battle."
Tech met Middle Tennessee nearly a year ago on Nov. 19, falling at home 73-62. MTSU last lost to Tech in Murfreesboro on Dec. 9, 2001 by a score of 68-64 in overtime.
- 2016 record: 23-11, 15-3 Conference USA
- Notables: Middle Tennessee's win over Vanderbilt last Friday marked head coach Rick Insell's 300th win at the helm of the program… he is the first MTSU coach to reach the 300-win mark and is 300-97 just a game into his 13th season… Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year Alex Johnson was injured in the first quarter of the Vandy game after an awkward landing from a rebound – it is unknown if she will be back to play against Tech.
