MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee got a much-needed win over Rice at home Saturday to keep pace in the fight for a Conference USA top-four seed and first-round bye in the conference tournament.
The Lady Raiders (16-10, 8-5), who pushed their all-time mark against the Owls (18-6, 8-4) to 7-0, leaned on their heralded defense to provide the 51-41 win in the annual Play4Kay Game. It was Rice's lowest point output of the season, and MT tied a single-season record by limiting its 10th opponent to less than 50 points.
With three games left in the regular season, Middle Tennessee sits fifth in the league, one-half game back of Rice and Charlotte.