Blue Raiders close non-conference campaign Wednesday night

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee women’s basketball team will put a cap on its non-conference schedule at 7 p.m. Wednesday when it plays host to No. 6 Kentucky inside the historic Murphy Center. It marks the third-straight season, and fourth of the last five, the two teams will have met with the contest slated for live coverage on ESPN3.com.

The Blue Raiders have won their last two contests to improve to 8-5 entering the matchup, including a Sun Belt-opening 58-53 victory over FIU last Wednesday. Overall, Middle Tennessee has posted wins in four of its last five games and owns a 5-2 record at home this season.

Sophomore Ebony Rowe leads the squad in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds. She also tops the team with a 54.7 field goal percentage, 33 steals and 14 blocked shots.

Juniors Kortni Jones (15.3 ppg) and Icelyn Elie (11.4) give MT a trio in double-figure scoring with Elie second behind Rowe with 7.4 rebounds per game.

Kentucky brings an 11-1 record into the contest, having bounced back from its first setback of the season to register a 90-61 triumph over Samford last Wednesday. The Wildcats won their first 10 games of the campaign before dropping a road tilt at No. 3 Notre Dame Dec. 18.

Only two players average double-figure points for coach Matthew Mitchell’s balanced offensive attack: A’dia Mathies with 16.1 ppg and Bria Goss with 12.3 ppg. Samantha Drake controls the boards with 6.3 per game.

< p>UK leads the all-time series, 9-3, however, Middle Tennessee earned a 57-51 triumph in the last meeting in Murfreesboro, two years ago.

It also marks the sixth-straight season in which a ranked opponent has played inside the Murphy Center.

Chip Walters (play-by-play) and Kyle Turnham (color analyst) will have all the action on the student-produced ESPN3.com broadcast.

The game can also be heard on the Blue Raider Network of WMOT (89.5 FM) and WGNS (1450 AM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM) with Dick Palmer (play-by-play) and Duane Hickey (color analyst) on the call.

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