Blue Raiders close non-conference slate Monday

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee women's basketball will conclude the nine-game non-conference portion of its schedule Monday when the Blue Raiders play host to Southeastern Conference foe Kentucky inside the Murphy Center at 7 p.m.

The Wildcats are the third overall SEC foe on this year's ledger and second to come to Murfreesboro to play Middle Tennessee. It marks the first meeting between the two schools since they met in the 2008 WNIT Second Round in Lexington, Ky. UK earned a slim, two-point overtime victory in that matchup.

The Blue Raiders are led by two-time reigning Sun Belt Player of the Week and All-American Alysha Clark. Clark averages 24.8 ppg and 12.7 rpg, ranking third nationally and tops in the Sun Belt in both categories, after a 37-point, 16-rebound effort in the league opener last Sunday against Western Kentucky, helping Middle Tennessee to a 5-4 record thus far this season.

Seniors Jackie Pickel (11.2 ppg) and Brandi Brown (10.3 ppg) also average in double figures for head coach Rick Insell's squad. Junior Emily Queen is second on the team with 4.6 rpg after grabbing a season-best 13 in the win against the Lady Toppers.

Victoria Dunlap leads a quartet of Wildcats in double figures with 18.9 ppg, followed by A'dia Mathies with 12.2 ppg, Amber Smith with 10.7 ppg and Carla Morrow with 10.3 ppg.

Dunlap is also the top rebounder for head coach Matthew Mitchell's team at 9.9 rpg. Amani Franklin is next with 7.3 rpg.

Kentucky enters Monday's contest with a perfect 11-0 record. The Wildcats defeated UT-Martin Tuesday in their last outing, an 87-47 triumph in Lexington, Ky.

Monday's game will also mark the final home game of the 2009 calendar year for the Blue Raiders. Middle Tennessee will play one last time in 2009, Dec. 30, at New Orleans when it resumes conference action.

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