Troy University Athletics
Trojans Can't Hold Onto First-Half Lead, Lose to GSU 62-60
12/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
Atlanta, Ga. - The Troy University women's basketball team could not hold on to a 14-point first half lead, as they fell at Georgia State 62-60 on Saturday.
The Trojans (2-3, 1-1 A-Sun) led 24-10 at the 8:03 mark of the first half. Troy was only able to score three more points before the break, as Georgia State (1-2, 1-0 A-Sun) put together a 22-3 run to take a 32-27 lead into halftime.
Troy was led in the first half by Valensia Hairston, who scored eight points on three straight trips to help the Trojans build their early lead. Audrey Muse and Amy Lewis each had seven first-half points.
The Trojans shot 11-of-25 (44 percent) from the floor in the first half, including 4-of-10 (40 percent) from behind the arc. Troy shot 1-of-3 (33 percent) from the free-throw line in the first period.
Georgia State was led by April Clyburn's nine first-half point. The Panthers shot 10-of-28 (35.7 percent) in the first half, including a 0-for-4 performance from behind the three-point line. GSU shot 12-of-16 from the free-throw line in the first 20 minutes.
Georgia State scored on its first possession of the second half, but the Trojans went on an 8-0 run to regain the lead at the 17:09 mark.
The teams exchanged leads six times and had six ties in the second half, before Georgia State took a 59-53 lead with 1:58 left to play.
Muse brought the Trojans to within two when she made a layup and was fouled on the play. She was unable to complete the three-point play, but the Panthers knocked the ball out of bounds, giving the Trojans possession with 32 seconds left. Alecia Jones was fouled on the possession, putting her on the free-throw line with 22.1 seconds remaining. She hit the first, but missed the second. Georgia State grabbed the rebound, and the Trojans were forced to foul Patechia Hartman. Hartman connected on both attempts to put GSU up three.
Lewis scored on a layup in traffic with 7.7 seconds remaining to trail by one, then put Hartman at the line with 4.2 seconds left on the clock. She hit the first but missed the second. The Trojans were unable to get off a shot in the final seconds, as the lost their first conference gam of the season.
Muse led the Trojans with 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Hairston finished with 13 and Lewis scored 11 for Troy. Laura Lee Holman and Alecia Jones each scored nine second-half points for Troy.
Jones led the Trojans with eight rebounds, and Kerri Fiehrer finished with eight assists.
The Trojans shot 24-52 (46.2 percent) in the game, including 6-of-16 (37.5 percent) from the three-point line. Troy finished 6-of-12 (50 percent from the free-throw line.
Georgia State was led by Clyburn, who finished with 21 points. Hartman scored 20 points for GSU, 13 in the second half.
The Panthers shot 20-of-50 (40 percent) from the floor, including a 1-of-9 (11.1 percent) three-point performance. GSU shot 21-of-27 (77.8 percent) from the free-throw line.
"I'm very encouraged by our players' commitment to a good work ethic. We played hard for 40 minutes. We lost the game at the free-throw line," said Troy head coach Michael Murphy.
"We got into trouble when we had to put all but one starter on the bench at the 10-minute mark of the first half because of fouls, and they continued to press. It's disappointing when you score four more baskets than your opponents, but get outscored by 15 from the free-throw line." But I have to give them credit. They didn't quit when they were down 14. We couldn't win the game at the free-throw line, and they did."
Troy has off 10 days off before returning to action, when they play at Mississippi State on Dec. 14.
