Nationally-ranked Blue Raiders return to road Saturday

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee women's basketball team, ranked No. 25 this week in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll, will head to south Florida for a 4 p.m. Central tip against Florida Atlantic in Sun Belt Conference action. The contest will be first of two straight for the Blue Raiders in the Miami vicinity.

MT enters the game with a 23-4, 15-0 Sun Belt record following a 90-64 home triumph Wednesday over South Alabama. Junior Alysha Clark, the reigning conference player of the week, led all players with 30 points and 12 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season, ninth against league foes and 50th of her career.

Clark was one of four Lady Raiders to reach double-figure scoring. She was joined by a season-high from Chelsia Lymon (20 points), Anne Marie Lanning (16) and Brandi Brown (12).

Florida Atlantic will enter the tilt with a 10-15 overall and 7-8 Sun Belt record. Carla Stubbs paces the Owls with 11.6 points per game, just ahead of Brittany Bowe's 11.2 average.

Middle Tennessee carries an 18-game winning streak into the contest and is led by Clark's national-leading 25.9 ppg.

The Blue Raiders won the earlier meeting this season, 90-64, Jan. 7 in Murfreesboro. Clark was again one of four starters to reach the double-digit plateau with a game-high 28 points. Breana Turner led FAU with 26 points off the bench.

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MTAthletics for continued updates.