CUSA Tournament Semifinals Preview
WKU Lady Toppers try to stop MTSU from repeating as CUSA Champions at 8 pm Friday. Liberty Lady Flames to face La Tech Lady Techsters in first game at 5:30 pm.
#3 Seed WKU Lady Toppers Take on #2 Seed MTSU Lady Raiders in Rubber Match for CUSA Championship Appearance
It is a matchup between two perennial contenders for conference championships in women’s basketball, and it’s one of the longest standing rivalries between two schools in college sports. It’s time for 100 Miles of Hate. This time the meeting is in the 2025 CUSA Championship semifinals. The Western Kentucky Lady Toppers (23-8) will try to make it back to the championship game for the first time since 2023 (against, you guess it: MTSU). The Middle Tennessee Lady Blue Raiders (25-7) will try to defend the their back-to-back 2023 and 2024 championships. These two teams split the regular season, and both are hoping for a little revenge in the 100 Miles of Hate ladies basketball edition.
The Lady Toppers come into the game after holding on to win their quarterfinal game against FIU 73-66. Starting out 14-0, the Lady Tops went -7 the rest of the way. Josie Gilvin #33 had her fifth double-double of the season, and Alexis Mead scored 20+ for the sixth time this season in the win. Western had balanced scoring with five players with eight or more points. But WKU did have problems with turnovers (18) and will need to shore that up before playing MTSU on Friday. The Lady Tops will try to use a balanced attack on offense and tenacious defense to advance to the final.
The Lady Raiders ran over Kennesaw State 73-46. This game was in doubt for about 30 seconds as Middle Tennessee outscored the Lady Owls 24-0 in the second quarter to put the game out of reach. Anastasia Boldyreva led all scorers with 29 points and three other players were in double figures. MTSU is big and will try to pound the ball inside on offense and their stingy defense to advance to their third straight championship game.
Before the Tournament, We Asked, “What does Western Kentucky Need to do to Win CUSA?”
Take care of the ball. Against better teams this number must be ten or less.
Make layups. WKU must make most of their layups or it will not go well.
Be aggressive and get the ball inside, initiate contact, and draw fouls to be able to shoot free throws. Free throws are a key to every championship.
Dribble penetrate and kick out for three pointers. Part of being aggressive means the opportunity to pass to open players for higher percentage shots.
Play solid with hustle, steal the ball, and play the WKU Lady Topper defense that leads to made layups.
After the Quarterfinal, Assuming the Tops Need to Beat MTSU And Liberty, Here’s Our More Specific List…
Interior defense must be much better. Against FIU, the Lady Toppers allowed FIU’s top three performing forwards (Aaliyah Pitts listed as a guard but is over 6’ tall) combined for 48 points, 23 rebounds, 8 assists, and a huge problem that created point #2, 17-for-25 from FT.
Stay out of foul trouble. WKU’s entire starting lineup had at least three fouls with several minutes to play. Zsofia Telegdy was saddled with fouls early and played less than 20 minutes and it really opened up the lane.
WKU’s post players need to be an offensive factor. Zsofia Telegdy is not a consistent double digit point presence, and few post players do much offensively on a normal basis for WKU. If the Tops want to dance by the end of the weekend, it’s almost impossible to see a path without WKU holding its own down low.
WKU’s guards must be excellent. The clear top four scorers for WKU are perimeter players, and then a distant fifth is Telegdy. WKU gets its points from outside, and their guards must come up with at least 40 and probably 50 or 60 in at least one of these.
Definitely another one we need to bring back: Minimize turnovers. WKU’s one win against Middle and Liberty? Five turnovers. In the others? No less than ten, and an average of 14.7. MT has to be beat straight up, but if WKU can do their job being steady, they can hang with MTSU offensively. Liberty also has good guards. It’s essential to use your pressure to make life difficult, but not get to such a frenzy that you can’t handle it yourself. These teams will be incredibly unlikely to beat themselves.
#5 Seed Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters (16-14) Versus #1 Seed Liberty Lady Flames (24-6)
La Tech comes into the game wanting to continue building on past successes and new youth. Winning this game and going to the finals would put them back in the discussions for the future. Liberty arrived to CUSA last season and immediately made impacts in women’s basketball by making it to the finals and hope to advance to their second straight CUSA Championship game. These two teams split the regular season, so who will come out on top on a neutral court? This one, like many in this tournament, could also be a closely contested game.
The Lady Techsters got ahead by 10 points early in their game against New Mexico State and held on to win 60-55. Paris Bradley, Jianna Morris, Jordan Marshall and Robyn Lee will the La Tech players to watch in this game. All arevaveraging more than ten points per contest. Interestingly, La Tech is led by a lot of youth. Does that play to their advantage as they get better late in the season? Or does inexperience show its ugly head and the Techsters get flushed out with ease?
The Lady Flames got ahead early in their game and never looked back against Sam Houston, winning 78-51. This Liberty team is very balanced scoring team, and the players to watch are Bella Smuda, Asia Boone, and Emma Hess. They will use inside outside balance and good defense to try and win this game and advance.
Conclusion
This should be two very exciting games as many have been in the CUSA Tournament this year in Huntsville. WKU fans need to make the drive to cheer on the Lady Toppers wearing the Red and White of dear old Western. GO TOPS!!! Win CUSA!
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GO TOPS!!!!
Telegdy needs to become a dominate post player. I don't think she likes the contact and prefers the top of the circle on offense. I think she has the potential to be a presence inside, but hasn't shown it.