Troy University Athletics
Women's Basketball Falls at North Texas
1/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
DENTON, Texas - Troy shot just 30.0 percent from the field in losing their fourth straight game, 71-46, at North Texas in Sun Belt Conference action Thursday night. Danielle Realph led the Trojans with a career-high 15 points.
After taking an early 6-2 lead, the Trojans (7-10, 1-5 SBC) came up empty-handed on their next 13 shots. The Troy drought helped UNT (14-5, 4-3 SBC) go on an 18-0 run over 9:27 that gave the Mean Green a 20-6 advantage with less than seven minutes remaining in the first half.
The Trojans chipped away at UNT's lead, and came back to within seven at 24-17 with 4:23 remaining. Sanetra Jackson put the Mean Green back up by 10 when she knocked down a three with 3:58 to play in the half.
On Troy's next trip, Danielle Realph scored her eighth point in a 1:45 span, bringing Troy to within nine, 28-19 at 3:42. The Trojans would only score off a free throw from Kylie Morrissy through the rest of the half, and UNT stretched their lead 13 as they went into the break leading 33-20.
Amber Jackson scored North Texas' first eight points of the second half as the Mean Green stretched their lead to 41-24 with 15:27 left to play.
The Trojans cut UNT's lead to 14 at 47-33 with 12:55 remaining, but then were held scoreless for more than five minutes as North Texas extended their advantage to 59-33.The Trojans were never able to get any closer than 21 through the rest of the game on the way to the loss.
The Trojans shot 30 percent (18-of-60) from the floor, including 5-of-14 (35.7 percent) from three-point range. Troy shot 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from the free-throw line.
It was a good night for Troy's freshmen. Realph led all scorers with 15 points, and Kylie Morrissy was second in scoring with seven points. Troy's four freshmen were a combined 12-of-17 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line, and they accounted for 27 of Troy's 46 points.
UNT shot 26-of-59 (44.1 percent) from the floor, including 6-of-16 (40 percent) from behind the arc. The Mean Green were 13-of-19 (68.4 percent) from the free-throw line. North Texas was led by Erika Bobo with 18 points.
The Trojans held the rebounding advantage, 40-39. Troy tied a season high with four blocked shots, two by Valensia Hairston.
We have to become more consistent on offense,” Troy head coach Michael Murphy said. We're getting good shots, we just aren't making enough of them.
The girls are playing hard, and the fact that we got 40 rebounds is evidence of that,” Murphy said.
We have to find a way to get over the hump on the road,” Murphy said. We need to remember that we're playing in the eighth-best league in the country, and many times on the floor, I'll have three freshmen. Anytime you have to do that, you're going to have some growing pains.”
The Trojans wrap up the four-game road trip on Saturday when they play at Denver at 3 p.m.
