Insell Legacy, Davis’ Hot Hand Propel MTSU into WNIT Super 16

By David Oglesby

Photo / MTSU Athletics

MURFREESBORO, TN — As the MTSU Lady Blue Raiders prepare for their Super 16 match up in the WNIT against Cleveland State, they hope for success for the team and another game for Coach Rick Insell to send his illustrious career off on a high note — and give good vibes for his replacement and son Coach Matt Insell, who hopes to continue to have the Raiders reaching for the stars.

Middle Tennessee rode resiliency, timely shooting and a steady dose of fundamentals to a convincing 69-50 WNIT victory over St. Bonaventure this past Monday. A result that both steadies the program’s postseason momentum and spotlights the generations-long coaching legacy about to be handed from Rick Insell to his son, Matt. The win advances the Blue Raiders into Thursday’s Super 16 matchup at Murphy Center, where the team will look to build on the confidence it rediscovered against the Bonnies.

Coach Rick Insell lauded his team’s growth and poise after the game, praising the way young players handled pressure and how the staff’s adjustments paid off. “Our offense early. Then we let them back in it,” Insell said, recounting the decision to insert sophomore sharpshooter Savannah Davis when another player was struggling. “Savannah just took the game over. She had every big shot for us… Our freshman didn’t play like freshmen tonight. They’ve grown up a little bit this year.”

Davis provided the spark the Blue Raiders needed. After a difficult stretch in which she shot 7-for-33 over eight games, the sophomore erased the slump in dramatic fashion — drilling a 38-footer at the third-quarter buzzer to push the lead to 54-43 and punctuate a night in which she finished with 14 points and a career-high four three-pointers (4-of-7 from deep). That performance tied her for second in program history for made threes in a postseason game and underscored a confidence Insell and teammates have repeatedly encouraged.

“Just keep pushing,” Davis said when asked what she attributes her resurgence to. “When it comes down to tournament time, it’s just who wants it more… I just played into what we did tonight. As a shooter, you just have to keep shooting — no matter if it’s going or not.”

Defensively, senior Kirston Verhulst continues to set the tone. Tasked with guarding St. Bonaventure’s primary scorers, Verhulst embraced the assignment and parlayed that intensity into offense. She finished with 11 points, a career-high eight rebounds and five assists. “I like to say I have a lot of intensity on defense,” Verhulst said. “That kind of carries me over into offense.”

Blair Baugus again anchored the paint, posting 20 points and 14 rebounds for her 15th double-double of the season. Alayna Contreras was perfect from the line (6-of-6) and Macie Phifer contributed seven points and five boards, rounding out a balanced effort that exemplified the sound fundamentals Insell preaches.

Insell also reflected on the emotional obstacles the team has navigated this season — from personal losses to the weight of expectations — and praised the players for answering those challenges. “It’s been a tough year,” he acknowledged. “They didn’t know Denise Smith, but they watched us hurting, and then they were hurting. Miss McPhee passing away, Gracie’s dad… these young women have been through a lot. But God has a plan, and they’ve grown.”

The program’s future is already taking shape: the university announced Matt Insell will succeed his father as head coach when Rick retires after the 2025–26 season. The younger Insell — praised by colleagues nationally for recruiting and development — issued a humble statement of readiness after the announcement. Rick echoed confidence in his son: “I can’t think of a better person to carry the torch forward.”

For now, the Blue Raiders are focused on one game at a time. Thursday’s Super 16 date with Cleveland State will test whether the renewed shooting touch, defensive intensity and steady leadership can carry Middle Tennessee further into the postseason — and give Rick Insell one more chance to watch his team chase another late-season run before the torch is passed.