MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — Savannah Wheeler scored 18 points and No. 23 Middle Tennessee State ran its winning streak to 16 games with a 67-41 victory over Florida International on Saturday.
The Blue Raiders used a 17-2 run to close the second quarter to lead 29-21 at the break and added an 11-1 run late in the third quarter to break the game open.
Kseniya Malashka added 13 points and Courtney Blakely 11 for the Blue Raiders (18-2, 11-0 Conference USA).
Kaliah Henderson and Maria Torres both scored 10 points for the Panthers (10-10, 5-6), who have lost 17 of the last 18 against MTSU. FIU went 3 of 17 from 3-point range and shot 29% overall.
MTSU shot 48% (27 of 56) overall despite going 4 of 22 (18%) from 3-point range. Combined with the 3-of-23 (13%) against Florida Atlantic on Thursday, the Blue Raiders had their two worst performances from long distance this season. A 43-28 rebounding advantage and 46-22 difference in points in the paint offset the struggles.
The Panthers hit a pair of 3-pointers in a 10-0 run in the first half and led 15-12 after one quarter but the Blue Raiders had a 12-0 run in the second to lead for a 29-21 lead at the break.
FIU hit just one of its last eight shots while MTSU was 6 of 7. The Panthers shot 32% while Wheeler scored 11 points for the Blue Raiders without missing a shot.
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