Troy University Athletics
Trojans Top Eagles in USF Image Depot Shootout
11/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
TAMPA, Fla. - Sophomore Danielle Realph had a career game as she led the Trojans to a win 77-62 win over Georgia Southern on Saturday at the USF Image Depot Shootout.
Realph posted 28-points to lead Troy (2-1) in scoring and notch the second 20-point game of the season as she played all but one minute in the game. Realph also pulled down five rebounds.
We challenged our players before the game to raise their level of play and to give us that little something extra that would enable us to compete at a high level. Danielle accepted the call and the proof is in the pudding with 28 points and five rebounds,” head coach Michael Murphy said.
She was scoring from the inside, she was scoring from the outside and I am really proud of the way she has responded to the challenge that we threw out there.”
Sophomore Kylie Morrissy also had a career game against the Eagles (1-2) as she posted 16 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Trojans. Of Morrissy's nine rebounds seven of those were defensive.
Junior Amy Lewis had fifteen points to end the game but her rebounds were what help guide Troy. Lewis led Troy in rebounds with 10 and nine of those came on the defensive side of the ball.
Kylie Morrissy was huge with her ability to take it down in against some mismatches and physical toughness. I am extremely please with out leadership especially out of Amy Lewis who has grown into that role and accepted it fully,” Murphy said.
As a team, Troy had 38 rebounds and pulled down 27 on defense. The Trojans also had five steals and 19 points scored off turnovers.
I thought we played a pretty good basketball team tonight. I am very proud of the way the team has handled themselves over the last two day. Their preparation has been very good, their focus has been good and their leadership has been great,” Murphy said.
Freshman Brittnie Davis also helped the Trojans out in a big way as she pulled down six rebounds, four of those on defense and made all four of her free throws. Davis helped the Troy extend the lead at the end of the game when she made four free throws in the last minute.
Brittany was another player who accepted the challenge. She didn't play a lot of minutes for us but her rebounds and free throws came in clutch situations for us,” Murphy said.
The first saw the two schools play evenly with a number of lead changes but Troy took the lead right before the eight-minute media timeout, 24-22.
Troy lost this small lead but battled keeping the score close going into the half down only by one but started the second half off strong half and lead by 16 with 7:48 left in the game, 58-42.
For Troy coming back after being down at the half was huge as it had been 32 games since it had won after trailing at the half. Troy last won after being down at the half on January 15, 2004 against Jacksonville University.
Realph lead the Trojans in scoring at the half with 10 points and Lewis was right behind her with seven points.
The Trojans performed well against Georgia Southern without the assistance of senior Laura Lee Holman who did not travel with the Trojans due to personal reasons.
As a whole we are growing as a basketball team and now we just have to move on and get ready to play tomorrow. Our starters played a lot of minutes which kind of concerns me for tomorrow but that is something we are going to have to work our way through,” Murphy said.
Troy will be back in action on Sunday Nov. 19 when it plays Texas Southern at 12 p.m. at the USF Image Depot Shootout at the Sun Dome on the campus of USF.
