Troy University Athletics
Troy Heads South to Face South Alabama
1/14/2009 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. - The Troy Trojans will hit the road for the first time since the New Year, heading south on Interstate-65 to face in-state and Sun Belt Conference East Division rival, the University of South Alabama, Wednesday night. Tip is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center, on the campus of South Alabama.
Troy (8-7, 3-2), who leads the all-time series against South Alabama 14-10, is in the midst of a five-game overall winning streak and a three-game conference winning streak. They will put that streak on the line against South Alabama (11-5, 2-3 Sun Belt), a team that the Trojans have yet to defeat since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2005. The Lady Jags are in the midst of their own streak, losing three consecutive games after a five-game winning streak in December.
"Winning streaks are a funny thing," Troy coach Michael Murphy said. "Some if it is a by-product of schedule, some of it is a team playing well. I think that has helped us a little bit, good karma never hurts. We are playing well right now and we are playing with a great deal of confidence. Only one thing teaches how to win and that is winning.
"Losing games close doesn't, and the girls have learned some valuable lessons this year. We have lost some games close and we have just gotten over the hump a little bit. Our seniors have demonstrated great leadership. It is all about we do in the present, not in the past and that is our focus right now."
Troy is led by senior Kylie Morrissy, averaging 16.9 points per game, while sophomore Donette McNair is averaging nearly 12 points per game in her first extended action of her career. Morrissy has scored 20 or more points in three of her last five games this season, including games of 20 (FAU) and 25 (ULL) last week.
"I think Kylie has always played hard," Murphy said. "She has always played with a great deal of passion. As a senior, I think what you are seeing is somebody who realizes that her career here at Troy is winding down. She realizes she has to take advantage of every opportunity because sometime in the near future, those opportunities may not be there. You can see that in the way she practices and it carries over to the games. She is all ready a good player, but she is playign with a little more heightened sense of urgency because it is the second semester of her senior season."
Last season, the Trojans and South Alabama played two times with the Lady Jags winning both contests. South Alabama claimed a 10-point victory at home, and then defeated Troy 69-66 at Trojan Arena in February. In that contest, Morrissy led the Trojans with 19 points while Shakira Nettles led South Alabama with 20 points in 29 minutes of action.
"South Alabama is an in-state rival," Murphy said. "We have played them close and competitive. We know what they are going to do and how they are going to do it, we just have to be prepared to stop them. We haven't been on the road in a while, the last 10 days, and that is something we are going to have to adjust to and be ready to play a quality opponent."
The game is first of two consecutive road games for the Trojans, who travel to ULM Sunday afternoon. Tip-off for Wednesday night is set for 7:05 p.m. Admission is $5 for all seats.
