Middle Tenn. State guard killed at home

Middle Tenn. State guard killed at home

Published Mar. 2, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

Police have charged a roommate in the fatal stabbing of Middle Tennessee State University basketball player Tina Stewart.

The junior guard from Memphis was pronounced dead at a Murfreesboro hospital after police answering a disturbance call Wednesday night found her stabbed at her apartment.

The Daily News Journal reports that Murfreesboro police charged 18-year-old Shanterrica Madden with first-degree murder. Police spokesman Kyle Evans says Madden stabbed Stewart during an argument.

Two others were ruled out as suspects after police interviewed them.

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Middle Tennessee State president Sidney McPhee, who spoke with Stewart's father, said at the news conference that the entire university is grieving over the death of ''a wonderful talented and vibrant young woman.'' McPhee said Stewart had spent the past three Thanksgivings with his family because she could not return home for the holiday.

''The anguish I feel as a father and a president ... but personally as a father with a daughter about the age of Tina, cannot adequately be expressed with words,'' McPhee said.

Counselors have been alerted to help on campus.

The Blue Raiders (23-6) are the No. 1 seed from the East and scheduled to start play in the Sun Belt Conference tournament Sunday against either Florida Atlantic or Arkansas State in Hot Springs, Ark. They are looking for a 14th trip to the NCAA tournament.

Stewart averaged 5.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 28 games this season for the Blue Raiders.

Athletic Director Chris Massaro was emotional at the news conference.

''This is an unspeakable tragedy to one of our family members,'' Massaro said. ''Our biggest concern is with Tina and her family. The team is devastated, but we'll work through this together ... one step at a time.''

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