Trojans Drop Tight Game at FIU

Saturday, January 19

Miami, Fla.

4:30 p.m.

Troy University

FIU

Photo by: Cass Davis

1/19/2013 7:23:00 PM | Basketball (W)

By: Matt Mays

Box Score

MIAMI – The Troy women's basketball team played one of its better games of the season, but fell to FIU on Saturday night, 82-76, at the U.S. Century Bank Arena.

Three days after committing 31 turnovers in a loss at Florida Atlantic, Troy (3-14, 0-8) committed just 13 against the Panthers as the two sides were locked in a tight battle all night.

“Tonight was a big step in the right direction for our program,” Troy head coach Chanda Rigby said. “It was the best our team has done at executing the gameplan. They showed a lot of maturity and composure.”

Joanna Harden had 33 points, 24 in the second half, in a game that saw eight lead changes. Jasmine Pitts was also in double figures with 10 points, narrowly missing a double-double with eight assists.

“The Joanna Harden I saw tonight looked more like the player I played against last year in the Panhandle (Conference),” Rigby said. “We need her to do that every night, and she can do that every night, so maybe this got the ball rolling.”

Harden matched FIU's Jerica Coley, an All-America candidate, who also had 33 points. Coley did her damage at the free throw line where she was 19-off-23. Troy, as a team, shot just 20 free throws (16-of-20).

Troy trailed by 10 early in the second half, but tied the game at 58-58 with 5:47 to go. FIU (11-7, 5-4) led by six just a minute later, but big shots kept Troy in it down the stretch.

Ashley Beverly-Kelley scored five of her nine points in the last minute, including a 3-pointer that got Troy within three, 77-74, with 37 seconds to go. The true freshman also hit two free throws with 20 seconds to go to cut the FIU lead to 78-76.

Troy trailed by four with 18 seconds to go, but Harden missed a tough, contested layup and the rebound fell to FIU to seal the game.

FIU had four in double figures as Marita Davydova (18), Finda Mansare (12) and Zsofia Labady (11) joined Coley.

Troy shot well from the field for the second straight game, this time posting a 44.3 percent (27-of-61) mark, including 6-of-16 from deep. FIU shot 37.5 percent (24-of-64) overall and 2-of-8 from deep. The Panthers were 32-of-42 (76.2 percent) at the free throw line.

Troy trailed by five, 33-28, at the half as FIU posted 26 first-half rebounds, nine offensive, to Troy 17 total. For the game, FIU outrebounded Troy 44-37.

The Trojans return home on Thursday when Arkansas State visits Trojan Arena. Tip-off is set for 5:15 p.m. as part of a doubleheader.

For more information on Troy Athletics, visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or on Facebook at Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.