Troy University Athletics
Notes and Quotes from December 16
12/16/2008 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
POSTGAME QUOTES
Michael Murphy - Opening Statement
I am really proud of the way my team competed. They had a chance in the first half to fold the tent and go home, being down by 14. But we continued to fight and we did that the entire game, and gave ourselves a chance to win but came up a little short.
What did you tell your team at halftime?
Keep playing - that is about all you could tell them. I really liked the rhythym of the game in the last 10 minutes of the first half. I thought we had where we wanted it, and I thought we did some things offensively that allowed us to gain some confidence. So we just wanted to keep playing, and come out the first five minutes of the second half and make it close. I like the way we ended the first half.
You were able to force a lot of turnovers, did that help?
Of course, they were shooting 52 percent so limiting their possessions was good. Here we were shooting 32 percent and we were down by just six points at the half. The only way you can do that is by playing defense, and we were able to keep ourselves within striking distance and give ourselves a chance.
Post-play, how good was it tonight?
I thought Alyce played a very good game, I think offensively she caused problems for their big post players. We enabled her to use her dribble and use her mid-range and long-range jumpers, and I think that helped us in the first half.
Kylie Morrissy - senior guard (20 point performance)
What did you differently in the second half?
I wanted to forget my first half to be honest. Being a senior, I watched the freshmen hold up the team in the first half. I felt like I needed to take some responsibility in the second half, and two freshmen gave me the ball on the fastbreaks and it was the least I could do to make them after what they did in the first half.
What did you differently in the second half?
I wasn't hesitant with the ball, I didn't think about it so much. I just got it and knew what I could do with and stuck with it.
POSTGAME NOTES
TROJANS AGAINST THE A-10 (THIS SEASON AND BEYOND)
Tonight's meeting with George Washington was the second meeting of the season for the Trojans against a team from the Atlantic-10 Conference, falling to Richmond at the Doubletree Classic (UT-Chattanooga). It is the third different team from the A-10 that the Trojans have played in the last two years, defeating Fordham last season on the road.
TROJAN STARTING FIVE
The Trojans used the same starting line-up for the second consecutive game (PG Larelle Roper, G Kirsten Smith, G Kylie Morrissy, F Donette McNair and F Alyce Shearing). It is the third different starting line-up on the season for the Trojans in just eight games.
STREAKS CONTINUE
Senior guard/forward Kylie Morrissy started her 75th consecutive game against George Washington University Tuesday night, while senior point guard Larelle Roper started her 65th consecutive game against the Colonials.
NOT SO GOOD STREAKS - INJURIES
With freshman Maggie Wright sitting out and freshman Tanae Kemp not making the trip, the Trojans have missed a combined 15 games this season. Kemp has missed all eight contests, while Wright has sat out the last two games.
A FIRST FOR THE TROJANS AGAINST HAIRSTYLES
Although the World Series is over and the Tampa Bay Rays are done playing this season, George Washington's Kay-Kay Allums was bearing the mohawk, a first for the Trojan opposition this season.
MATCHING A MARK
With her third basket of the game, with eight minutes remaining in the first half, junior Alyce Shearing recorded her 53rd point of the season. That total matches her season total from a season ago, in which she played in 24 games and 226 minutes. She equaled in the mark in just over seven games and 106 minutes.
CLIMBING THE LADDER
Kylie Morrissy continued to climb the scoring charts at Troy in the contest against George Washington. Needing just four points to tie Samantha Tomlinson in 12th place (1,142 points) and 19 to tie Heather Haney for 11th place (1,157 points), Morrissy tied Tomlinson with 7:30 remaining in the first half on a 15-foot jumper. She then passed Haney with her last basket of the contest, and stands in 11th place at 1,158 points - just two points shy of 10th place Laura Lee Holman, a teammate. She all ready passed Tomlinson in free throws made in the Spring Hill contest, with 259 career (just 10 short of Angie Lowe for fourth place all-time).
