Former Cannon County Lionette basketball standout was instrumental Saturday in leading the Middle Tennessee State Lady Blue Raiders to the Conference USA tournament championship. Sissom scored 11 points as second seeded MTSU beat Old Dominion 70-54. Sissom’s defense shut down Old Dominion’s best player en route to the second Conference USA Championship in three years in the league. Middle Tennessee became only the second school in C-USA history to have its men’s and women’s teams win the championship in the same year after the men claimed their title earlier in the day. Cincinnati did it in 2002. It also marked just the second time in program history that both teams claimed tournament titles in the same season. The other time was 1985.
Middle Tennessee won its 15th conference tournament title overall and the seventh under Head Coach Rick Insell, who improved to 7-2 in conference tournament championship games. The Blue Raiders will be making their 18th NCAA Tournament appearance and ninth under Insell’s guidance.
The Lady Raiders will learn their NCAA Tournament destination during the NCAA Selection Show Monday.
