Lady Raiders comeback falls short in OT - GoBlueRaiders.com

MIAMI – Middle Tennessee came within seconds of overcoming a big first-half deficit before falling at FIU, 56-54, in overtime here Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Raiders (12-4, 4-2) overcame a 14-point deficit in the first half and led twice in the fourth quarter and once in overtime before suffering the gut-wrenching setback after Tanajah Hayes connected for a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining.

Amanda Whittington's potential game-winning three-pointer from the corner came up just short on the final play of the game.

"We should have never put ourselves in that position," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "We are a better basketball team than that, but we dug ourselves a big hole in the first half and spent the rest of the game battling back. We gave ourselves a chance to win, and I'm proud of that but you have to play better to win on the road."

The loss overshadowed a tremendous game for freshman center Anastassia Boldyreva, who supplied her first career double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and added four blocked shots. Boldyreva scored eight of her 10 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Alexis Whittington finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Dor Saar finished with nine points, three assists and two steals, while Courtney Whitson added eight points and 10 rebounds. Jalynn Gregory (8) and Courtney Blakely (7) combined for 15 points.

FIU (9-5, 1-2) came up big at the free-throw line where it outscored Middle Tennessee 16-4. The Panthers were 16-of-18 from the charity stripe, while Middle Tennessee connected on 4-of-5.

The Lady Raiders hurt themselves with 18 turnovers and were just 6-of-29 from the 3-point line.

Middle Tennessee will conclude a grueling road stretch to start conference play when it faces Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss., Saturday, marking the Lady Raiders' fifth road game in seven C-USA contests.

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