MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (Interstat) — Alayna Contreras scored 28 points to lead Middle Tennessee to a 71-53 women’s basketball victory over Kennesaw State on Saturday at Murphy Athletics Center.

The Blue Raiders (14-11) used a 20-point first quarter to build an early lead and never trailed, sweeping the season series from the Owls (11-12). Contreras hit five 3-pointers. Macie Phifer added 18 points and eight rebounds for Middle Tennessee, which shot 11 for 25 from beyond the arc.

Kennesaw State, which shot just 1 for 8 on 3-pointers, was led by Trynce Taylor with 15 points and Latazia Williamson with 14. The Owls committed 20 turnovers, leading to 18 points for the Blue Raiders. Attendance was 3,812.