Troy University Athletics
Halftime Lead Not Enough as Trojans Fall to South Alabama.
1/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. - Troy led South Alabama at the half but it was not enough as the Jaguars rallied and took the game, 69-56.
South Alabama held Troy just 26 second half points to improve its conference record to 2-4 and 8-8 overall. The Trojans fell to 1-5 in league play and 8-8 overall.
Freshman Alyce Shearing guided the Trojans as she posted 14 points. Shearing also performed well at the charity stripe as she was a perfect four for four. Shearing ended the game five for 11 from the floor.
I thought the girl's played pretty hard. I was very happy with our effort. When you consider our foul trouble in the first half, you know, having three important players on the bench and having the lead at the half,” head coach Michael Murphy said.
I think that really speaks well for our players that came off the bench in the first half. I though we did a really good job of rebounding the basketball. That was a point of emphasis going into this game.
Sophomore Kylie Morrissy also assisted the Trojans as she put up 14 points of her own. Morrissy was six for 15 from the field and two for four from the free throw line. Morrissy also pulled down six rebounds, four of which came on defense.
As a team Troy shot 35.7 percent from the floor and 70 percent from the free throw line.
In the second half, South Alabama shot a season high 57.7 percent and ended the game shooting 46.3 percent from the floor. The Lady Jags were led by senior Whitney Woodard who posted 24 points as she was ten for 16 from the floor and three for three from behind the arc. Woodard has now posted 20-points or more in three of the last four games for South Alabama.
We didn't make enough plays in the second half. For whatever reason I though we got a little tired with our legs, we weren't quite as sharp and you have to tip your hat a little to South Alabama because they made enough plays in the second half to give them that edge,” Murphy said.
Freshman Brittnie Davis came up big for Troy on the boards as she pulled down a career high eight rebounds. Five of the eight rebounds came on defense. As a team the Trojans grabbed 40 rebounds, while the Jaguars only pulled down 32.
Troy led South Alabama 30-25 at the half after trailing by as much as five before taking the lead. This is the first time in four games the Trojans have led after the first 20 minutes of play.
We're getting better. I know that is hard to understand when you lose a game or two but this team cleaned our clock last year. We were in position to win the game we just didn't make enough plays in the second half,” Murphy said. I am please with our progress. When you look at whom we are playing, one junior, three sophomores and two or three freshman for the majority amount of minutes I am pretty pleased with our progress.”
Shearing led the Trojan campaign in the first half as she posted 10 points. Shearing was four for eight from the field and a perfect two for two from the charity stripe.
Troy will be back in action on Saturday when it plays host to Arkansas State. Tip off is set for 5:15 p.m. with the men's game to follow.
