KENNESAW, Ga. (Interstat) — Blair Baugus scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, powering Middle Tennessee to a 60-47 victory over Kennesaw State in a non-conference women’s basketball game Friday night at the KSU Convocation Center.

The Blue Raiders (6-7) never trailed, using a stifling defensive effort to build a double-digit lead in the first quarter and holding the Owls (6-5) at bay the rest of the way. The most important stretch of the game came early, as Middle Tennessee capitalized on a flurry of Kennesaw State turnovers to establish immediate control.

After a slow start for both teams, Middle Tennessee’s defense ignited a decisive 15-0 run over a five-minute span in the opening period. The sequence was fueled by active hands and poor ball security from the Owls, who committed six turnovers during the Blue Raiders’ surge. Baugus, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Waynesboro, Tennessee, was central to the run, converting a layup off a steal and controlling the defensive glass. Alayna Contreras capped the run with a three-pointer, assisted by Kirston Verhulst, to give Middle Tennessee a 17-2 lead with 3:50 remaining in the quarter.

Kennesaw State struggled to recover from the early deficit, shooting poorly from the field and failing to mount a sustained offensive threat. The Owls closed the first quarter down 17-8 and were held to just 12 points in each of the next two periods. While they managed to trim the lead to nine points on a few occasions, the Blue Raiders consistently answered with key baskets to maintain a comfortable margin.

Baugus was efficient and dominant inside, playing 40 minutes and adding an assist and a block to her double-double. Contreras, a 5-6 guard from Minneapolis, provided crucial support with 18 points and five assists. Verhulst added six points and three assists for Middle Tennessee, which outscored Kennesaw State 21-15 in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Trynce Taylor led Kennesaw State with 15 points and three assists. Latazia Williamson contributed 11 points and two blocks, while Kaelyn Flowers added 10 points. The Owls were hampered by 21 turnovers, which Middle Tennessee converted into 21 points. The Blue Raiders also held a narrow edge in points in the paint, 26-24.

The game was a defensive struggle, with both teams shooting under 40 percent from the floor. Middle Tennessee’s ability to create offense from its defense in the first quarter proved to be the decisive factor, setting a tone the Owls could not overcome.

The win moves Middle Tennessee back to within a game of .500 as it prepares to open Conference USA play. The Blue Raiders travel to face Jacksonville State on Sunday. Kennesaw State, which saw a two-game winning streak snapped, will host Western Kentucky on Sunday to begin its Atlantic Sun Conference schedule.

An estimated 577 fans attended the game at the 4,600-seat Convocation Center. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Middle Tennessee entered the contest with an 84.2 percent probability to win.