BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Western Kentucky University Lady Toppers will face the Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders Saturday afternoon at E.A. Diddle Arena, with tip-off scheduled for 2 p.m. The game marks a rematch between the two Conference USA opponents after Middle Tennessee defeated WKU in their previous meeting on January 31st in Murfreesboro.
WKU enters the contest with a 6-18 overall record and a 2-11 mark in CUSA play. Middle Tennessee boasts a 14-11 overall record and a 9-4 record in conference action, currently tied for second place in the CUSA standings.
Salma Khedr currently leads the Lady Toppers in scoring, averaging 9.9 points per game. Zsofia Telegdy is the team’s leading rebounder, pulling down 4.7 boards per game. WKU has demonstrated balanced scoring throughout the season, with nine different players leading the team in points on at least one occasion.
The Lady Toppers recently limited Jax State to just 41 total points on February 14th, the fewest points WKU has allowed in a conference game since January 18, 2018, when they held UTSA to 38. Against Salukis, WKU recorded nine team blocks, tying the seventh-highest single-game total in program history.
Middle Tennessee is led in scoring by Alayna Contreras, who averages 13.6 points per game, and Blair Baugus, who averages 12.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. The Blue Raiders have secured sweeps against Kennesaw State and Jax State, and have also recorded wins against UTEP, Modern Mexico State, Sam Houston, Liberty, and WKU. Their losses have reach against Louisiana Tech, Delaware, Missouri State, and FIU.
Saturday’s game will be the 89th all-time meeting between WKU and Middle Tennessee. WKU holds a 25-17 advantage in games played in Bowling Green, but trails 35-54 in the overall series. In the previous matchup this season, Salma Khedr led WKU with 13 points and seven rebounds, even as Trinity Rowe added 11 points.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can also be heard on ESPN 102.7 in Bowling Green and the Varsity Network. A “Red Out” is planned for the game, and a Grow The Game pregame kids clinic will be held at 11 a.m.
