MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The No. 24 Middle Tennessee women's basketball team will open its regular season with a 2 p.m. Sunday tip against UCF inside the Murphy Center. The Blue Raiders begin their 35th campaign at the varsity level just three games shy of 1,000 in program history.

Middle Tennessee was victorious in both of its exhibitions leading up to Sunday's game. The Blue Raiders posted a 96-68 triumph over Carson-Newman and a 94-57 win against Lincoln Memorial.

Redshirt senior forward Alysha Clark, named a First Team All-American Friday by ESPN.com, led the squad with double-doubles in both exhibition contests. Fellow senior Jackie Pickel netted a team-high 18 points in the victory over Lincoln Memorial, tying junior Anne Marie Lanning with four 3-pointers.

UCF played one exhibition game and earned a 67-60 win against St. Leo. Emma Cannon, a junior forward for coach Joi Williams' Knights, was tabbed the Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year after averaging 15.5 ppg and 11.6 rpg last season. UCF was 17-17 a year ago but captured the Conference USA Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament First Round where it lost by five to North Carolina.

The two teams have met once previously with the Blue Raiders garnering a 71-69 win Dec. 22, 2000 in Orlando.

Tickets to the opener and all other Middle Tennessee home events can be purchased by calling 1-888-YES-MTSU.

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