Box Score

Tennessee St. TSU 0-1,0-0 OVC

Middle Tenn. MTSU 1-0,0-0 CUSA

Tennessee St. TSU

0-1,0-0 OVC

Final

Nov. 03, 2025

Middle Tenn. MTSU

1-0,0-0 CUSA

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Tennessee St. TSU	15	13	15	10	53
Middle Tenn. MTSU	25	13	6	15	59

Game Recap: WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | 11/3/2025 2:06:00 PM

Women's Basketball Edged Out By Middle Tennessee to Open 2025-26 Season

Next Game:

Wright State

11/7/2025 | 7 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule

Nov. 07 (Fri) / 7 PM

Wright State

History

Roster

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Tennessee State women's basketball team opened the 2025-26 campaign with grit and resilience, pushing Conference USA powerhouse Middle Tennessee to the final minutes before falling 59-53 inside the Murphy Center on Monday morning.

The Tigers (0-1) showed fight from start to finish, rallying from a double-digit deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter behind a tenacious defensive effort and a strong showing on the glass.

Sophomore Aaniya Webb led TSU with 17 points, including a key fourth-quarter bucket that gave the Tigers their first lead of the day. Somah Kamara added 11 points and four steals, while Xai'Onna Whitfield filled the stat sheet with nine points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Erin Martin anchored the paint with eight points, eight rebounds, and four blocks, and Kiki Roberts grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.

Tennessee State dominated the offensive glass, pulling down 22 offensive rebounds that led to 17 second-chance points. The Tigers also forced 20 turnovers and blocked nine shots, holding the Blue Raiders to just 39 percent shooting from the field.

After trailing 38-28 at halftime, the Tigers stormed back in the third quarter. Kamara and Martin combined for clutch baskets during a 7-0 run that trimmed the margin to five, and Whitfield's layup late in the frame capped an inspired 15-point quarter that brought TSU within one, 44-43.

The Tigers carried that momentum into the fourth, opening with six straight points — including a jumper from Whitfield — to take a 49-44 lead with just under eight minutes remaining. Middle Tennessee, however, closed on a late surge to reclaim the advantage and seal the narrow win.

Head coach Candice Dupree's young squad showed poise and energy in its first outing, matching the Blue Raiders on the boards (41-44) and setting the tone defensively with effort and toughness.