Troy University Athletics
Trojans Scare No. 17 Middle Tennessee
2/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. - Sophomore Kylie Morrissy led the Trojans on Thursday night with a double-double, but it was not enough as Troy battled to the end but fell to No. 17 Middle Tennessee 68-60 at Trojan Arena.
Morrissy finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, her sixth double-double of the season, and junior Amy Lewis added 15 points of her own.
In her last home game for the Trojans (12-15, 5-12), senior Valensia Hairston pulled down a season-high 12 rebounds.
It was a hard fought game. I'm disappointed in the loss, I thought we played an exceptionally talented basketball game tonight in Middle Tennessee, No. 17th in the country and 10th in the RPI,? head coach Michael Murphy said. I really want to give my players a lot of credit for playing exceptionally hard. We had some chances down the stretch and just couldn't convert there at the end. We fought hard all the way to the end and that is really all you can ask.?
The Trojans lost for only the third time this season after leading at the half as they stayed close to Middle Tennessee (25-3, 17-0) for most of the game. The Blue Raiders have now won 22 in a row and are undefeated in conference play this season.
Middle Tennessee opened the second half with a 12-5 run over the first five minutes to take a 45-41 lead. Troy continued to battle keeping the Blue Raiders within eight, 59-51 with 4:32 remaining.
Chrissy Givens led the Blue Raiders throughout the game as she posted a double-double with 31 points and 13 rebounds. Givens has now posted six double-doubles this season.
We had a lot of chances in the second half to score. Middle Tennessee is the 17th ranked team in the country because of who they have. Every time they needed a basket they went to their stud Chrissy Givens and she got it for them. We had our studs have chances there at the end and they just couldn't complete it. My guys have to play a lot of minutes, it is a very physical game and it just got away from us for a little bit late in the half,? Murphy said.
Also assisting the Blue Raiders was Krystle Horton who added 14 points.
It was the first time this season Middle Tennessee won after trailing at the half.
Troy took an early lead over the Blue Raiders 12-9 with 13:59 on the clock and then extended its lead to 11, 29-18 at the six minute mark.
Troy's 11-point lead over Middle Tennessee in the first half was the Blue Raiders largest deficit this season since losing to Tennessee, 88-64 on Nov. 26.
Middle Tennessee battled back with a 10-5 run over the last six minutes to cut the Troy lead to three, 36-33 at the half.
In the first half, Realph led the Trojans with nine points on 3 for 3 shooting from behind the arc.
Lewis also guided the Trojans into the half as she put up eight-points going four for eight from the field.
Troy will close the 2006-07 season on Saturday, Feb. 24 when it travels to Mobile to face in-state and conference foe South Alabama at 5:15 p.m. at the Mitchell Center on the campus of South Alabama.
