Troy University Athletics
Trojans Fall in Sun Belt Opener
12/20/2008 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Troy Trojans women's basketball team fell to the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 82-46 on Saturday to open Sun Belt Conference play.
The Trojans (3-6, 0-1 Sun Belt) were led by sophomore Donette McNair with 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting, to go along with seven rebounds in 18 minutes of action. Also playing well for the Trojans was Alyce Shearing with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting. Kylie Morrissy added eight points and four rebounds while playing all 40 minutes.
Middle Tennessee (8-4, 1-0) were paced by Alysha Clark who had 31 points and 10 rebounds.
The game was truly a story of two halves.
In the first half, the Trojans shot 47.8 percent from the floor on 11-of-23. However, in the second half they shot only 25 percent from the floor on 6-of-24. Meanwhile, the Blue Raiders shot 39.4 percent in the first half and 50 percent in the second half.
The Trojans trailed by nine at halftime 39-30, but came out cold in the second half. The Trojans could only manage two points in the first five minutes of the second half as Middle Tennessee went on a 15-2 run.
“The first five minutes of the second half are always critical,” said head coach Michael Murphy, “and tonight we didn't make the shots in the second half that we did in the first half.”
The Blue Raiders also ended the second half on a long run. This one being an 18-3 run.
“It's not even Christmas yet, we still have a lot of games left to play,” said Murphy, “ One game doesn't dictate a season.”
The Blue Raiders started the game with a 7-2 run. However, the Trojans erased the deficit by breaking Middle Tennessee's full court press on more than one occasion. Shearing scored on a layup off an assist from Danielle Realph at the 16:32 mark. Thirty seconds later Shearing was fouled attempting a layup and made one of two free throws. McNair added the next basket at the 15:38 mark on a fast break off of a Blue Raider turnover.
With the score tied at seven the Blue Raiders hit two three point field goals to pull ahead 13-7. One by Emily Queen, who was 6-7 from behind he arc, and one by Jackie Pickel.
The Trojans were led in the first half by McNair who had 8 points on 4-5 shooting. Also pacing the Trojans was Shearing with 7 points on 3-4 shooting, however she checked out at 8:14 with three fouls and did not return. Freshman Kirsten Smith also added 6 points helped largely by a 4-4 mark at the line.
Middle Tennessee was led by Clark who had 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting and seven rebounds.
Another big factor in the Trojans' loss was the three point shooting of Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders were 14-36 from behind the arc for 38.9 percent. The Trojans on the other hand, went 0-8 and were held to zero three point field goals for the second time this year.
Although the Trojans did a great job of breaking Middle Tennessee's full court press in the first half, the story wasn't the same in the second half. The Blue Raiders caused 20 turnovers in the second half, as compared to only 10 in the first half.
“Middle Tennessee changed and became more efficient in their press,” Murphy said, “We looked like we were in a hurry in the second half.”
The Trojans travel to Bowling Green, KY to take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Monday at 7 pm. The game will be the third of a five game road stretch.
The Trojans (3-6, 0-1 Sun Belt) were led by sophomore Donette McNair with 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting, to go along with seven rebounds in 18 minutes of action. Also playing well for the Trojans was Alyce Shearing with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting. Kylie Morrissy added eight points and four rebounds while playing all 40 minutes.
Middle Tennessee (8-4, 1-0) were paced by Alysha Clark who had 31 points and 10 rebounds.
The game was truly a story of two halves.
In the first half, the Trojans shot 47.8 percent from the floor on 11-of-23. However, in the second half they shot only 25 percent from the floor on 6-of-24. Meanwhile, the Blue Raiders shot 39.4 percent in the first half and 50 percent in the second half.
The Trojans trailed by nine at halftime 39-30, but came out cold in the second half. The Trojans could only manage two points in the first five minutes of the second half as Middle Tennessee went on a 15-2 run.
“The first five minutes of the second half are always critical,” said head coach Michael Murphy, “and tonight we didn't make the shots in the second half that we did in the first half.”
The Blue Raiders also ended the second half on a long run. This one being an 18-3 run.
“It's not even Christmas yet, we still have a lot of games left to play,” said Murphy, “ One game doesn't dictate a season.”
The Blue Raiders started the game with a 7-2 run. However, the Trojans erased the deficit by breaking Middle Tennessee's full court press on more than one occasion. Shearing scored on a layup off an assist from Danielle Realph at the 16:32 mark. Thirty seconds later Shearing was fouled attempting a layup and made one of two free throws. McNair added the next basket at the 15:38 mark on a fast break off of a Blue Raider turnover.
With the score tied at seven the Blue Raiders hit two three point field goals to pull ahead 13-7. One by Emily Queen, who was 6-7 from behind he arc, and one by Jackie Pickel.
The Trojans were led in the first half by McNair who had 8 points on 4-5 shooting. Also pacing the Trojans was Shearing with 7 points on 3-4 shooting, however she checked out at 8:14 with three fouls and did not return. Freshman Kirsten Smith also added 6 points helped largely by a 4-4 mark at the line.
Middle Tennessee was led by Clark who had 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting and seven rebounds.
Another big factor in the Trojans' loss was the three point shooting of Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders were 14-36 from behind the arc for 38.9 percent. The Trojans on the other hand, went 0-8 and were held to zero three point field goals for the second time this year.
Although the Trojans did a great job of breaking Middle Tennessee's full court press in the first half, the story wasn't the same in the second half. The Blue Raiders caused 20 turnovers in the second half, as compared to only 10 in the first half.
“Middle Tennessee changed and became more efficient in their press,” Murphy said, “We looked like we were in a hurry in the second half.”
The Trojans travel to Bowling Green, KY to take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Monday at 7 pm. The game will be the third of a five game road stretch.
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