WKU Women’s Basketball rode a massive third quarter in a 14-point comeback victory Saturday defeating rival Middle Tennessee State for the first time in nearly three seasons 63-58.
At the five-minute mark of the first half, MTSU led 28-14 and entered halftime up 34-25. However, the Lady Toppers outscored MTSU 20-9 in the third quarter and 18-15 in the fourth quarter for the win.
“Anytime you play against a really good team as Middle Tennesse is … I think you have to play together,” Associate Head Coach Todd Buchanan said. “It’s all about team. It’s all about the five on the floor and playing together and playing with the huge heart they had in the second half.”
The Lady Toppers trailed 53-52 with six minutes left in the game before ending the game on an 11-5 run.
After two road wins, WKU extended their win streak to three and improved to 12-5 (3-2).
The Lady Toppers had three players in double figures led by junior guard Josie Gilvin who poured in 17 points, along with six rebounds. Junior guard Acacia Hayes contributed 15 points as they combined for 32 points.
The Lady Toppers shot 42% from the field and 24% from three. WKU held MTSU to a 36% mark from the field and a 15% mark from three. WKU was outrebounded 47-32.
First Half
It was a slow start for the Lady Toppers. The size of MTSU’s Anastasiia Boldyreva was too much early and MTSU took an 8-0 lead going into the timeout.
WKU could not get much going, scoring only 10 first-quarter points. Hayes led with four, and WKU was down 19-10 starting the second quarter.
The Lady Toppers struggled to find the bottom of the net and MTSU went on a 7-0 run early taking a 28-14 lead halfway through the second quarter. Senior forward Caleigh-Rose West provided a spark off the bench for the Lady Toppers scoring eight points. Going into the half WKU found themselves down nine 34-25.
Second Half
WKU jumped out to a fast start out of halftime pulling the deficit to just four, 38-34, going into the media timeout. After the timeout, the Lady Toppers continued to find ways to score, shooting 53% from the field and outscoring MTSU 20-9 to take a 45-43 lead into the final 10 minutes of play.
Despite MTSU starting the fourth quarter on an 8-2 run taking a 51-47 lead with seven minutes to go the Lady Toppers continued to fight. WKU went on their own 9-2 run led by Gilvin to take a 56-53 lead going into the media timeout.
It was ultimately the huge third quarter from WKU that put them into position to finish the game. The Lady Toppers handed MTSU their first conference loss of the season 63-58 and snapped the Blue Raiders’ 33-game CUSA winning streak.
“I think we did a really good job of penetrating and moving the ball during the fourth quarter. It was easy to get our shots up,” Gilvin said.
The Lady Toppers look ahead as they will welcome Louisiana Tech Thursday, Jan. 23 at 11 A.M.
Sports Reporter Peyton Reid can be reached at [email protected].