Player Notebook: Sitting down with TiAnna Porter

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee women's basketball is now in week three of fall practice. Coach Rick Insell and his staff have been busy working on fundamentals and schemes for the upcoming season.

Recently, GoBlueRaiders.com sat down with sophomore transfer TiAnna Porter to talk about her experience so far at MT. Porter, a native of Paris, Tenn., transferred to MT from Pittsburgh earlier this year. While with the Panthers, Porter averaged 2.9 points in 21 games played. She will sit out the 2012-13 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Q: How has your transition been to Middle Tennessee so far?

A: So far it has been great. I love Murfreesboro and the community. I always have a smile on my face.

Q: Why did you decide to be a part of the Blue Raider program?

A: It was a little too far away from home from me. Murfreesboro is just two hours away from my hometown of Paris, Tenn. I have a lot of family in Murfreesboro. Coach Insell has a wonderful program. He is a winning coach. I want to be part of a program that is successful.

Q: What do you like about Coach Insell?

A: He's straight to the point. I love that. He keeps it honest with me. He critiques me on the little things. I have never had that done to me. He pushes me more than any other coach I have ever had.

Q: How would you describe your playing style?

A: Before I was just an up and down court type of player. Now with Coach Insell, I am working on the little things like my defense, my high slide and posting up. I used to not like to post up, but now I feel like my new technique helps me a lot.

Q: What are some of your hobbies outside of basketball and the classroom?

A: I like to draw. A lot of people say I am very artistic. I like to get a pen and paper to jot something down.

Q: Who has been an inspiration for you?

A: My dad inspires me a lot. He always gave me critiques that made me want to get positive feedback from him.

Season Tickets on Sale

Fans are encouraged to purchase their season tickets for the upcoming season. This year's non-conference schedule includes the preseason WNIT and Xavier, as well as the full Sun Belt slate. Combination packs that include men's and women's tickets are just $199, while women's season tickets are $100. For more ticket information click here, or call 1-888-YES-MTSU.

Sun Belt Media Day Next Week

The annual preseason honors and poll are slated to be announced next Tuesday, Oct. 23 for the 2012-13 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Media Day.

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