Troy University Athletics
Trojans lead wire-to-wire for victory
12/4/2007 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. - The Troy University women's basketball team led from the opening tip en route to a 71-50 victory over Mercer in non-conference action at Trojan Arena Tuesday night.
The Trojans scored the opening basket of the game on a three-pointer by Brittnie Davis just 17 second in, starting a 10-0 run to open the game and not allowing Mercer any closer than seven points.
Following the three-pointer by Davis, Audrey Muse added the next four points on lay-ups and Davis hit her second three-pointer with 17:45 remaining in the half to push the lead to 10-0. Troy (5-2) pushed the lead to 12 at 15-3 when Muse hit another lay-up, followed an Amy Lewis lay-up and free throw just 3:21 into the game.
“I was really pleased with the win,” head coach Michael Murphy said. “I thought the kids really came out and set the tempo early in the first five minutes, especially with their defense. We were able to convert on some very good shots which was a by-product of our defense and some good passes.”
The Trojans kept up the pressure throughout the first half and pushed the halftime lead to 16 at 38-22. Troy held Mercer to just 33.3 (9-of-27) percent of their shots in the first half, while hitting on 43.8 (14-of-32) percent of their own.
“I think we played well for the majority of the game,” senior guard Amy Lewis said. “We came out firing in the first half, and got some good shots early. We hit a bit of a slump and let them get back into the game. We just need to learn to put teams away, even if it is a 30-point game.”
The second half was much the same story as Troy pulled away from the visiting Bears, as they went on a 19-5 run midway through the half to pull away.
Leading 51-30, Larelle Roper drained a three-pointer with 11:53 remaining in the contest to push the Trojans lead to 54-30. After a lay-up by Shakeda Richie trimmed the lead to 54-32, Alyce Shearing connected on a lay-up pushing the lead back to 16 points at 56-32. Danielle Realph joined in the act with a three-pointer pushing the lead to 59-32, and Roper hit a short jumper with 6:20 remaining to extend the lead to 61-35 for the Trojans.
Troy extended the run when Zena Lawrence tipped in a missed jumper with 5:40 remaining to push the lead to 63-35, followed by consecutive three-pointers by Shearing and Kylie Morrissy extended the lead to 69-35 with 3:59 to play.
Morrissy's three-pointer was the play of the game as she took a pass in the corner and hit the shot as she was falling to the floor. After the foul was called on Mercer's Gabrielle Essex, Morrissy drained the free throw for a 70-35 lead.
The score was closed to final deficit of 21 points in the waning moments of the game when Mercer left their starting five on the floor against the Trojans' reserves.
“I was happy we got a chance to play everybody,” Murphy said. “I am not real happy at the end of the game. What we talk about everyday is playing every possession, no matter what the score is. If you are not going to come in and play hard then you are not going to play.”
Troy ended the game shooting 48.2 (27-of-56) percent from the floor and 44.4 (8-of-18) percent from behind the arc. Meanwhile, Mercer shot just 38.2 (21-of-55) percent from the floor and 18.8 (3-of-16) percent from behind the arc.
Mercer (3-6) was led by Sarah Russell with 11 points and six rebounds, while Shaquita Bell added 10 points.
Troy was led by Morrissy with 18 points on a perfect night (6-of-6) from the free throw line, while collecting a game-high seven rebounds and six assists. Lewis added 14 points and six rebounds. Roper added a game-high eight assists for the Trojans.
The Trojans have played two home games this season and won by an average of 30.5 points in those two games, averaging 73.5 points per game in the victories. Against Mercer, the Trojans extended the lead all night with their team-oriented defense.
“I think our team defense was great tonight,” Morrissy said. “We rotated really well on defense and communicated really reall. I think that helped us on our offense because of the way we played defense against them.”
Troy returns to action Saturday, December 15th against UT-Pan American in the Flint Hills Resources Islander Invitational. The game is set to tip at 1 p.m. at the Bank of America Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The Trojans scored the opening basket of the game on a three-pointer by Brittnie Davis just 17 second in, starting a 10-0 run to open the game and not allowing Mercer any closer than seven points.
Following the three-pointer by Davis, Audrey Muse added the next four points on lay-ups and Davis hit her second three-pointer with 17:45 remaining in the half to push the lead to 10-0. Troy (5-2) pushed the lead to 12 at 15-3 when Muse hit another lay-up, followed an Amy Lewis lay-up and free throw just 3:21 into the game.
“I was really pleased with the win,” head coach Michael Murphy said. “I thought the kids really came out and set the tempo early in the first five minutes, especially with their defense. We were able to convert on some very good shots which was a by-product of our defense and some good passes.”
The Trojans kept up the pressure throughout the first half and pushed the halftime lead to 16 at 38-22. Troy held Mercer to just 33.3 (9-of-27) percent of their shots in the first half, while hitting on 43.8 (14-of-32) percent of their own.
“I think we played well for the majority of the game,” senior guard Amy Lewis said. “We came out firing in the first half, and got some good shots early. We hit a bit of a slump and let them get back into the game. We just need to learn to put teams away, even if it is a 30-point game.”
The second half was much the same story as Troy pulled away from the visiting Bears, as they went on a 19-5 run midway through the half to pull away.
Leading 51-30, Larelle Roper drained a three-pointer with 11:53 remaining in the contest to push the Trojans lead to 54-30. After a lay-up by Shakeda Richie trimmed the lead to 54-32, Alyce Shearing connected on a lay-up pushing the lead back to 16 points at 56-32. Danielle Realph joined in the act with a three-pointer pushing the lead to 59-32, and Roper hit a short jumper with 6:20 remaining to extend the lead to 61-35 for the Trojans.
Troy extended the run when Zena Lawrence tipped in a missed jumper with 5:40 remaining to push the lead to 63-35, followed by consecutive three-pointers by Shearing and Kylie Morrissy extended the lead to 69-35 with 3:59 to play.
Morrissy's three-pointer was the play of the game as she took a pass in the corner and hit the shot as she was falling to the floor. After the foul was called on Mercer's Gabrielle Essex, Morrissy drained the free throw for a 70-35 lead.
The score was closed to final deficit of 21 points in the waning moments of the game when Mercer left their starting five on the floor against the Trojans' reserves.
“I was happy we got a chance to play everybody,” Murphy said. “I am not real happy at the end of the game. What we talk about everyday is playing every possession, no matter what the score is. If you are not going to come in and play hard then you are not going to play.”
Troy ended the game shooting 48.2 (27-of-56) percent from the floor and 44.4 (8-of-18) percent from behind the arc. Meanwhile, Mercer shot just 38.2 (21-of-55) percent from the floor and 18.8 (3-of-16) percent from behind the arc.
Mercer (3-6) was led by Sarah Russell with 11 points and six rebounds, while Shaquita Bell added 10 points.
Troy was led by Morrissy with 18 points on a perfect night (6-of-6) from the free throw line, while collecting a game-high seven rebounds and six assists. Lewis added 14 points and six rebounds. Roper added a game-high eight assists for the Trojans.
The Trojans have played two home games this season and won by an average of 30.5 points in those two games, averaging 73.5 points per game in the victories. Against Mercer, the Trojans extended the lead all night with their team-oriented defense.
“I think our team defense was great tonight,” Morrissy said. “We rotated really well on defense and communicated really reall. I think that helped us on our offense because of the way we played defense against them.”
Troy returns to action Saturday, December 15th against UT-Pan American in the Flint Hills Resources Islander Invitational. The game is set to tip at 1 p.m. at the Bank of America Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
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