Last-Second Bucket Sinks Trojans on Senior Night

Saturday, March 2

Troy, Ala.

5:15 p.m.

Troy University

South Alabama

Photo by: Cass Davis

Last-Second Bucket Sinks Trojans on Senior Night

3/2/2013 7:31:00 PM | Basketball (W)

By: Matt Mays

Box Score

TROY, Ala. – The Troy women's basketball team led for much of the game, but fell in the final seconds to South Alabama, 71-70, on Senior Night on Saturday at Trojan Arena.

Troy (6-23, 3-16) took a one-point lead on two Ashley Beverly-Kelley free throws with 19.2 seconds remaining, but South Alabama's Ronneka Robertson put back Brianna Wright's missed jumper with just four seconds remaining to give the Lady Jags the win.

Robertson's basket was just her second, with the first coming seconds before to give South Alabama (17-12, 3-17) a 69-68 lead with 35 seconds to go.

Joanna Harden led Troy with 25 points while Ashley Beverly-Kelley posted 20 with eight rebounds. Each had five assists as Troy had 13 assists as a team to just 13 turnovers.

The game marked the final home game for Troy seniors Aarika Howard, Sophie Kleeman and Sarah McAppion. McAppion had eight points and seven rebounds in the Trojans second loss to South Alabama this season. However, Troy will look for revenge in a likely first-round Sun Belt Championships match-up against South Alabama.

“The improvement from our first game against South Alabama to this game is what the new era is all about,” Troy head coach Chanda Rigby said. “I wish it would have ended up picture perfect with a win, but the improvement is success, and I think all we need is that one more chance.”

Meghan Dunn led South Alabama with 19 points off the bench, including five of the Lady Jags 11 3-pointers. Troy held South Alabama to 36.5 percent (23-of-63) from the field as Jags biggest lead was only three points, late in the first half.

Troy held South Alabama's leading scorer Mary Nixon (11.7 ppg entering) scoreless on just three shot attempts.

The Trojans raced out to a 13-2 lead as Harden scored the Trojans first 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting, but South Alabama closed the gap throughout the half. The Lady Jags actually held a lead 27-24, but Troy held them scoreless over the last 4:50 and scored the final five points to take a 29-27 lead into the break.

The Trojans return to the court on Friday at the Sun Belt Championships in Hot Springs, Ark. Unofficially, the Trojans will be the No.10 seed and play the No.7 seed South Alabama at 2 p.m.

Official seedings, game times and venues will be released by the conference office on Sunday and can be found on TroyTrojans.com as well.

In addition to TroyTrojans.com, fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or on Facebook at Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.