MTSU women's basketball freshman Courtney Blakely stepping up during conference play

MURFREESBORO – Middle Tennessee State women's basketball freshman Courtney Blakely said she provides more of a defensive spark to the Lady Raiders when she comes off the bench.

Senior teammate and Maine transfer Dor Saar was quick to correct her fellow point guard.

"It's not only on defense, it's also on offense," said Saar, cutting Blakely off mid-sentence during a press conference following MTSU's 80-52 win over North Texas Sunday. "I don't know if you've noticed, but you have a spark...just an energy. Having you on the court really helps us."

Blakely scored 2,324 career points at Bishop Noll High School, which is 16th all-time in Indiana..

She is starting to show that offensive ability with MTSU.

Entering the Lady Raiders' Conference USA home openers this weekend, Blakely was averaging just over six points and 15 minutes a game.

She logged 38 minutes in her first start and scored 13 points in Friday's 87-63 win over Rice, subbing for senior and former Riverdale standout Alexis Whittington (who was out for COVID-19 protocol).

Blakely then scored a career-high 18 points in 26 minutes on Sunday off the bench as MTSU improved to 3-1 in C-USA and 11-3 overall.

"I wanted to come out and show something different for our team," Blakely said. "If it's scoring, it's scoring. If it's defense, it's defense. Whatever I need to do."

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Saar has been a mentor for Blakely, but as quickly as she is to correct Blakely in a press conference, she is just a quick to show tough love on the court.

"This girl gets in my face and tells me, 'If you don't get yourself together, you're going to need help,'" said a laughing Blakely.

"She's a freshman, and sometimes I feel like we forget that," said Saar, the team's leading scorer, who had a career-high 23 points (five 3s) in Sunday's win. "Sometimes I need to get on her, but mistakes are part of the game. The biggest thing to do is correct the next time and improve yourself, and she's doing a good job of that."

MTSU's rotation isn't a deep one, but Blakely and forward Kseniya Malashka, who scored 12 points in 22 minutes off the bench Sunday, help give the Lady Raiders seven players who either start or get starter-type minutes. Malashka is second on the team in scoring at 12.3 a game.

"You've got to be prepared when you get the opportunity," MTSU coach Rick Insell said. "When Whittington went out with COVID, Blakely stepped it up. Whittington and (senior forward) Courtney Whitson are going to be in there. They've been with me three years and I know what I get out of them, which is everything they have.

"Blakely is following in their footsteps. The mistakes she makes are freshman mistakes, but it's not because she's not hustling. She's remarkable in some of those moves and shots she makes. We just have to tone her back a little, but not enough to take her game away from her."

MTSU will travel to play conference foes Florida Atlantic on Thursday and Florida International Saturday.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.