The Ole Miss lady Rebel basketball takes on Middle Tennessee on Thursday night in the third round of the Women’s NIT. This game is matching up a Insell vs. Insell face-off for the second time this season.
Ole Miss comes into this matchup after defeating Georgia Tech 63-48 on Sunday night. As senior Tia Faleru picked up her 14th double-double of the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds against Georgia Tech.
Middle Tennessee enters Thursday’s game with a 23-9 record after defeating Arkansas State, 70-60, in second round WNIT action on Sunday. Olivia Jones is leading the way for the Blue Raiders with 19.6 points per game while Ty Petty is averaging 17.3 points per game. Brea Edwards is contributing a team-best 8.3 rebounds per game and adding 12.9 points per game.
The Blue Raiders are averaging 72.3 points per game while holding opponents to just 59.5 points per game. Middle Tennessee is also pulling down 40.4 rebounds per game and owns a +2.5 rebounding average over opponents. In WNIT action, Middle Tennessee is averaging 69.5 points per game and holding opponents to just 59.0 points.
In the first meeting between coach Matt Insell and his father Rick Insell Middle Tennessee won the game 71-65 in Oxford. This will also be the first time in which a father and son will be squaring off in NCAA postseason.
The Rebels and Blue Raiders are meeting for the 18 time on the hardwood with Middle Tennessee winning the last to games, although the Rebels do lead the all-time series 13-4.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Should the Rebels get past Middle Tennessee they will face the winner of NC State and Temple.
Adam Brown is HottyToddy.com sports editor and can be reached at adam.brown@hottytoddy.com.
