Troy University Athletics
Turnovers Prove Costly as Trojans Fall at No. 25 Middle Tennessee
1/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Eastern Division Sun Belt Conference leader and 25th-ranked Middle Tennessee proved to be too much for the Trojans as it ran away with the game, 90-55.
After only scoring 19 points in the first half the Trojans (8-7,1-4 SBC) rebounded in the second scoring 36 and shooting 61.1 percent for the game.
Turnovers proved to be costly for Troy as they turned the ball over 35 times, 22 times in the first half alone. Middle Tennessee (12-3, 4-0 SBC) took advantage of the turnovers scoring 46 points at the expense of the Trojans.
Troy did have one bright spot on the night as it battled the boards and matched the Lady Raiders rebound for rebound. The Lady Raiders pulled down 34 rebounds and the Trojans matched with 32 of their own.
Sophomore Kylie Morrissy led the Trojans in scoring with 22 points and junior Amy Lewis followed with 10 of her own as they were the only two in double figures. Morrissy hit nine of her 10 attempts from the field and added four rebounds.
Throughout the game Troy had trouble stopping the three as the Lady Raiders made 12 for 29 attempts. Brandi Brown led Middle Tennessee in the parade of treys as she hit five of the 10 she attempted.
Brown led the Lady Raiders in scoring with 19 followed by Jackie Pickel and Chrissy Givens with 13 each.
Troy trailed by 22 at the half, 41-19, but shot 50 percent has it hit eight for 16 from the floor and three of six from the charity stripe.
The story of the first half was not points scored however as the Trojans committed 22 turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play. The Trojans only forced nine turnovers in the first half as the Lady Raiders scored 27 points off turnovers.
Troy also only took 16 shots in the first half compared to the Blue Raiders who took 36 making only 12 as Middle Tennessee had a shooting percentage of 33.3 for the first half of play.
With 11:42 remaining in the first half the Trojans had been held to four points while allowing Middle Tennessee to score 15.
The Trojans will return home to begin classes on Monday and will have a three game home stand beginning on Thursday with in-state rival South Alabama at 5:15 p.m.
