Lady Toppers Fall in Close Battle to Blue Raiders, Prepare for Road Games at Sam Houston and La Tech.
MTSU wins 73-63 in Murfreesboro and keeps their conference home streak intact. WKU now gets ready to head to Huntsville, TX, and Ruston, LA, trying to solidify their 3rd place in CUSA.
WKU Women’s Basketball is a historic powerhouse, but the last few decades have been much more like its mid-major peers, only occasionally making the NCAA Tournament and very rarely doing anything but appearing. However, this season, the Tops are on the right track, sitting at a solid third place in a top heavy Conference USA, unlikely to change seed lines with three weeks to play, two games back from Liberty and two games ahead of fourth place NMSU.
This past Saturday, the Tops took on MTSU at MTSU, falling by ten as the Blue Raiders pulled away in the final two minutes. WKU led much of the first half and some in the second. The Tops have certainly handled themselves admirably against CUSA’s best team, splitting the series for the first time in years.
This coming Thursday and Saturday, the Lady Toppers take on Sam Houston State in Huntsville and follow it up with a trip to Ruston, Louisiana to take on the Lady Techsters of Louisiana Tech. We’ll preview those momentarily.
WKU Hangs Tough on the Road, Comes up Short.
MTSU found ways to undo some of the offensive problems they had in the previous game in Bowling Green. They were able to mess with Western’s defense and score enough to win the game by ten. MTSU jumped out to a 8-2 lead and Western closed the lead and took a 24-20 lead advantage at the end of the first quarter. From this point on, the Blue Raiders outscored the Hilltoppers in each of the following three quarters.
MTSU was led by Ta’Mia Scott with 24 points and Anastasia Boldyreva with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Middle only played 6 players. WKU was led by Zsofia Telegdy #23 with 20 points and seven rebounds. Destiny Salary had 14 points and Acacia Hayes had 11 points. Josie Gilvin added 11 points and 10 rebounds in the losing effort.
Western’s downfall was 17 turnovers versus 12 and being called for 18 personal fouls versus 11. Plus, Alexis Mead was in foul trouble early and seemed to suffer some sort of arm injury in the third period, only playing 18 minutes and attempting just one shot on the night and hauling in zero steals. Lexie did not score in this game for the first time since Indiana State. Mead’s hustle allowed her to contribute five rebounds and four assists, but something was up with her Saturday. If WKU plays MTSU in the CUSA tournament, Western should develop a plan to keep Alexis Mead and Josie Gilvin in the game and get the Raiders in foul trouble, forcing MTSU to use their untested bench players.
Player Spotlight vs Middle TN - Zsofia Telegdy #23
After 2 seasons as a Kansas Jayhawk, Zsofia Telegdy is now a 6’3” junior forward for Western Kentucky from Budapest, Hungary is now a key player on the WKU Lady Toppers roster. Zsofia averages 8.5 points, 5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, .5 steals, .6 blocks, and 1.3 turnovers per game while shooting 42.3% from the field and 35.1% from the three point line. Telegdy needs to shoot free throws better, box out, and rebound better, especially here at the end of the season. Her presence in the middle of the WKU offense and defense is a key to the Lady Topper continued success this season.
Zsofia had an incredible game at Middle, making 6-of-11 threes and scoring 20 points while grabbing seven boards. She was on the the main reasons the Tops hung around with Middle on the road as long as they did. Most of her points came in the first half, but she also sprinkled in a few big shots in the later stages as well before she fouled out.
This Week
Lady Toppers Headed to Texas to Face 12-11 Sam Houston on Thursday at 6:30
Sam Houston has 8 players that average around 20 minutes per game and are led by Kaila Kelley 12.5 points and Deborah Ogayemi averaging 12 points and 7.5 rebounds. The Bearkats average 63 points, 36.8 rebounds and 19.6 turnovers per game. Turnovers are the biggest problem for SHU. If WKU can continue forcing turnovers against Sam Houston and make shots on the road, this should be a WKU win.
Western Goes to Louisiana on Saturday at 2:30 to Square Off Against 13-11 La Tech.
The Lady Techsters average 66.4 points, 38.3 rebounds and are also susceptible to turning the ball over, averaging 19.2 per game. Two of those three things would seem to play directly into the Lady Toppers’ hands, and the Tops seemingly would just need to hold their own on the boards and be in pretty good shape. La Tech has 4 women averaging 11.4 or more points per game, Jordan Marshall (11.4), Jianna Morris(11.4), Robyn Lee (12.1) and Paris Bradley (13.1), so they are pretty balanced. They will try to hold WKU in the low 60s to give them a pretty good chance for the upset win at home. The problem is WKU is a generally capable offensive team, averaging well into the 70s per game on the season.
WKU needs for all players to get their averages, hustle at all times, and play with some grit. On the road especially, Western’s ladies have a tendency to shy away from contact around the rim, causing missed layups and turnovers, when fouls are not called. Remember what your first coaches taught you: Focus on your shot, draw and absorb the contact, and make the shot. Then let the officials decide if it warranted an extra shot.
Conclusion
The Lady Toppers should play well against these next two opponents as they have little to play for except pride and spoilers rights. But both of those things can be great motivators, so WKU needs to go in and own these two teams and courts. Keep in mind these teams are fighting to stay out of the first round of the CUSA Tournament, which would mean they be the 7-10 seed and have to win four games in five days, including having to beat Liberty or Middle in the quarterfinals. Leave nothing on the floor to doubt, proving they can compete for the CUSA championship this year.
Western is 17-7 overall and 8-4 sitting 3rd in CUSA with six games left (four on the road). Liberty is in 2nd at 11-2 and Middle sits at 11-1 in first place. WKU needs a little help to get the number 2 seed, but WKU beating Liberty on the road and Liberty finding two more losses than the Lady Tops overall would hand WKU the two seed. Ladies, continue to play hard and let’s see what happens.
As a second generation WKU Alumni and fan, born and raised in Bowling Green, The Red Barn and Diddle Arena, I want my home team to do well, and unless I am sick or at work, you will find me at Diddle on game days cheering on the Red and White of Dear Old Western.
After years of leading our conferences (CUSA, Sun Belt, and OVC) in attendance in all sports and championships, the WKU fan at large and students seem to have other interests over the last few years. It seems like only the faithful few remain. I continue to challenge Bowling Green, Warren and surrounding counties, students, staff, alumni, former players, friends, enemies, and anyone else reading to get your family to Diddle this season and cheer on the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams. Fill up the boxes and sections with your employees. It is time to rebuild a fan base and fill Diddle Arena. The men have lost three games at home and the ladies two games, but yet our stands remain far too empty. These players work too hard to play in a near empty gym.
GO TOPS!!! Win CUSA!
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GO TOPS!!!!