Middle Tennessee back on the road Saturday at South Alabama

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee women's basketball team puts its current seven-game winning streak on the line Saturday, as it travels to Mobile, Ala., to face South Alabama at 3:30 p.m. in Sun Belt action.

The Blue Raiders completed a three-game homestand Wednesday by knocking off Troy, 84-51, behind four starters in double figures. Senior Brandi Brown paced the squad with 19 points, just one ahead of teammate Anne Marie Lanning's total.

Middle Tennessee's seven consecutive wins have improved its record to 16-5 overall and 11-1 in the Sun Belt. The Blue Raiders own a two-and-a-half game cushion over Western Kentucky and a three-game lead over South Alabama in the league's East Division.

Brown and fellow senior Alysha Clark were named First Team Academic All-District IV Thursday and will be placed on the national ballot. Clark also was picked as one of 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.

South Alabama owns a 13-10 overall and 8-4 Sun Belt mark into the start of its own three-game homestand. The Lady Jags, under the direction of 10th-year head coach Rick Pietri, have three players averaging in double-figure points, led by Christian Shelter's 11.4 ppg. Shakira Nettles (10.5 ppg) and Tashley Gaines (10.2 ppg) also average at least 10 points.

The Lady Jags started their Sun Belt slate off well, winning their first seven, including hanging the only loss on UALR; however, the team has slipped lately dropping four of its last five with the lone victory being at two-point decision at Troy Saturday.

Middle Tennessee owns the all-time lead in the series by a 13-4 edge and has won each of the last 11 meetings. The two team met in last year's Sun Belt Tournament semifinals with the Blue Raiders pulling out a 77-71 triumph, their closest score in the three-game event on their way to the league championship.

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