Troy University Athletics
McNair Leads Trojans to Victory
11/25/2008 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. - Donette McNair started a collegiate game for just the second time in her career and recorded her second consecutive double-double, leading the Troy University Trojans to a 59-56 victory over in-state rival Jacksonville State University at Trojan Arena Tuesday night.
McNair, a sophomore forward, recorded a career-high 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the floor, while recording 15 total rebounds in leading the Trojans to victory. Senior Kylie Morrissy chipped in with 15 points for the Trojans.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville State was led by Jolie Efezokhae with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Zenobia Pitts came off the bench to add 17 points for the Gamecocks.
Troy started off strong, running out to a 10-2 lead before the first media timeout. Morrissy started the scoring with a 15-footer, before Alyce Shearing connected on her own jumper to extend the lead to 4-2. Lucy Lindley and McNair connected on lay-ups, before the sophomore recorded her first offensive rebound of the night and converted it for a tip-in.
"We started out pretty good," Troy head coach Michael Murphy said. "When you play against a zone, you start to settle in for jump shots and that is what we did in the early going. When they start to fall it helps with the momentum, and that is what we did. After the first timeout, and even before, we got a little animated and started going inside with the ball. Donette and Lucy both came up big down low for us in the early going."
The run continued to extend, with the Trojans eventually opening an 18-3 advantage with 5:59 to play. They held Jacksonville State without a basket for over 13 minutes in the contest, until the Gamecocks' Efezokhae converted a three-point play to trim the deficit to 18-6 with 5:41 to play in the opening half.
After Jacksonville State trimmed the lead to 18-10, Troy went on a 10-3 run over the next 2:17 to take a 28-13 lead with 2:23 remanining in the opening half.
The Gamecocks made a push in the second half, trimming the lead to 37-34 with 11:47 to play in the contest. The 19-9 run enable the Gamecocks to close to gap, but Troy was able to maintain that advantage and push the lead back to seven (53-46) with 3:37 to play in the contest.
Pitts connected on a 3-pointer to trim the deficit to 53-49 with 3:15 to play, before both teams were held without a basket for the next 1:22. Troy ended the drought with a Danielle Realph jumper to extend the lead to 55-49 with 1:53 left in regulation. The lead grew to as many as seven, 58-51, late in the contest, before Pitts connected on another 3-pointer to trim the deficit to 58-54 with 19 seconds to play.
McNair made sure that the Trojans would stay on top for good in the final 19 seconds. After being fouled, McNair missed the back end of a two shot foul, but was able to get her own offensive rebound by going over two Jacksonville State players in the low block. She connected on the next free throw to put the Trojans up 59-54 with just 13 seconds to play. Jacksonville State scored a late basket with just four seconds remaining for the final margin.
"We tell our players all the time to be prepared," Murphy said. "You never know when the opportunity is going to arise, and to be prepare to take advantage of that opportunity. We tell them to come everyday with a hard hat and a lunch pale, and be prepared for whatever arises - whether it be two minutes, 20 minutes or a start."
Troy shot 32.2 (19-of-59) percent from the floor, while hitting 30.8 (4-of-13) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 63 (17-of-27) percent from the free throw line, while grabbing 39 rebounds and forcing 25 Jacksonville State turnovers. Meanwhile, Jacksonville State shot 32.7 (17-of-52) percent from the floor, 25 (5-of-20) percent from beyond the arc and 60.7 (17-of-28) percent from the charity stripe.
Troy returns to action Friday afternoon at 5 pm EST at The McKenzie Arena in the first game of the Doubletree Classic, hosted by the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. The Trojans face Richmond in the opening game of the tournament.
