In rare family clash, Raiders rally past Rebels

Murfreesboro, TN -- The Ole Miss Rebels travel to Murfreesboro, TN to take on the Blue Raiders. What makes this rivalry extra special are the coaches. MTSU head coach Rick Insell's son, Matt Insell, is the head coach for Ole Miss. This is the third time the two have faced off, MTSU has won both.

There is an enormous crowd at the Murphy Center, the band is loud, and the fans are excited, plus Fox Sports is in the building.

The Rebels get the first possession and first score, but the Raider's Brea Edwards answers back with her own field goal to start the game. The Raiders struggle with turnovers and travels in the first quarter to give the Rebels a six-point lead after the first five minutes of play.

The Raiders are finally able to get their rhythm going, Brea Edwards scores two and then is sent to the line for two more, and is able to shorten the Rebels lead to two by the end of the first quarter.

MTSU's Olivia Jones starts off the second quarter with a two-pointer to give the Raiders their first lead of the game, a lead that will last until halftime. The Raiders stopped turning over the ball and started stopping the ole miss offense. Sissom and Edwards both hit three-pointers before the end of the half to put the Blue Raiders up 36-27.

Ty Petty and Edwards, both with great games, get the second half started to give the Raiders a 43-34 point lead. The Rebels offense just isn't playing like they were in the first half of the game, and neither is MTSU's. After having tons of turnover and foul problems to start the game, the Raider's came out after halftime looking a lot more disciplined.

The sidelines start heating up towards the end of the game as the father-son match-up draws closer to the end. Brea Edwards hot shooting just won't stop as she gets another three-pointer. As the third period draws to a close, Abbey Sissom hits a three-pointer to make the score 63-45 Raiders. Sissom ends the game with 15 points.

As the fourth quarter starts, the jacket comes off. That is the jacket of Ole Miss coach Matt Insell as the pressure heats up for the Rebels. However, that won't help the rebels get their heat back on the court. It's all Blue Raiders as the game comes to a close. MTSU will take the win, 84-75. That's a nine-point win for Rick Insell and the Blue Raiders.

Three of MTSU's players had a double-double in the game. Olivia Jones had 17 points and 13 rebounds and Ty Petty with 12-points and a career-high 10 assists. Also, Brea Edwards had an outstanding game, ending with 24-points and 12 rebounds.

"It was a great team win. It was fun out there; I think that all of us enjoyed ourselves and each and every player from starters to off the bench just came in there and played their role. Everyone was positive tonight, and I think we're finally starting to build some chemistry," Edwards said after the game.