MTSU Sidelines

Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: Sports

Middle Tennessee put together a 19-4 run over a six-minute stretch, the last three minutes of the first half and the first three of the second period, and never looked back in defeating New Orleans, 80-61, Sunday afternoon at Murphy Center. It was the 34th consecutive home victory over Sun Belt competition for the Blue Raiders dating to 2005.

Amber Holt led four double-figure scorers for Middle Tennessee with 24 points and seven rebounds as well as four assists. Anne Marie Lanning hit four three-pointers and scored 13 points, while Starr Orr added 14 points and five boards and Chelsia Lymon netted 12 points with a career-high six rebounds. Lymon also had three steals and three assists in her third consecutive start.

Middle Tennessee built a 12-point lead in the first half but UNO cut the deficit to four with 2:47 left before intermission. Lanning then hit a pair of three-pointers and Holt added two free throws and a basket before the break for a 42-30 advantage. All four double-figure scorers had points in the opening minutes of the second half, buckets from Orr and Holt, two free throws by Lymon and a three-pointer from Lanning capped the 19-4 run to give Middle Tennessee a 19-point advantage.

The Blue Raiders would push the lead to as many as 27 late in the contest, and UNO never got closer than 17 the rest of the way.

All eight Middle Tennessee players scored points and played at least 12 minutes. The Blue Raiders turned 21 Privateer turnovers into 26 points and won the battle of the boards for the second straight game, 40-37, thanks to a team-best eight boards from Emily Queen.

Holt was just 8-of-18 from the field but made 8-for-10 at the foul line. Orr had all five of her rebounds on the offensive glass and Lanning was 4-of-9 from three-point range, giving the freshman nine three-pointers in the last two games.

UNO played well in spurts in the opening 20 minutes and never let the Raiders run away with the game. The Privateers shot 13-of-22 from the field and continually cut into the Middle Tennessee lead.

The Blue Raiders led 27-16 with 7:07 remaining in the half before UNO put together a 12-5 run over the next four plus minutes, cutting the deficit to four. Middle Tennessee then closed the half with its 10-2 run for the 12-point halftime edge.

Middle Tennessee plays at Louisiana-Monroe tonight at 5:30 p.m. before returning home Saturday against North Texas at 7 p.m.

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