Troy University Athletics
Trojans Register Home Victory
11/25/2009 2:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. - The Troy University women's basketball team used a fast start over the first five minutes of their home opener against Longwood University on Tuesday night, pulling away for a 74-57 victory in non-conference action.
"I am really pleased with our effort," head coach Michael Murphy said. "I am really pleased to get our first win at home against a very scrappy team, a team that plays until the final whistle."
The Trojans jumped out to a 10-0 lead to start the contest, keyed by a 3-pointer by Alyce Shearing to get the scoring started just over a minute into the contest. The run continued when Donette McNair connected on a lay-up and Kirsten Smith hit a lay-up to push the lead to 7-0 in less than three minutes.
The run ended when McNair hit a free throw and Smith another lay-up with 14:54 to play in the first half. Longwood (1-4) did not score their first basket until over five minutes had run off the clock.
"You always want to get off to a fast start," Murphy said. "Fast starts are predicated on two things, you make shots and you hold the other team from making shots. That is what we did. We talk all the time about being unselfish, about making the extra pass and that is what we did, although sometimes we may have been a little too unselfish."
The Trojans were able to feed off the crowd frenzy early, as they pushed their first half lead to over 20 points.
"I am really excited about the crowd we had tonight," Murphy said. "With school not being in session, the crowd was great. The town folk came out, the football team was here and so was the band. I just appreciate them coming out to the game tonight, and I know the girls do as well."
The Trojans were able to hold a big lead until the final buzzer of the first half when Chelsea Coward drained a 3-pointer from the corner to trim the lead to 34-21 at the break.
The second half was much the same story, as Troy (2-1) used their defensive pressure to secure easy baskets and grab their biggest lead of the game at 21 with 13:51 to play in the contest.
Longwood became the third team this season against the Trojans that failed to convert on 20 percent of their 3-point opportunities, as they were held to just 14.3 (3-of-21) percent for the game.
"I was proud of our defensive effort at times," Murphy said. "We knew coming in they would shoot the three and they did. We were able to hold them to just three total and their best shooter just had one, so that speaks a lot for the defensive effort. That was a point of emphasis coming into tonight."
McNair led Troy with 21 points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing her second consecutive double-double. Meanwhile, Shearing added 19 and freshman Sophie Kleeman scored a career-high 13 points in the victory.
The Trojans shot 47.9 (23-of-48) percent from the floor and 38.1 (8-of-21) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 62.5 (20-of-32) percent from the free throw line, while forcing 23 turnovers in the process.
Coward led Longwood with 21 points, the only player in double figures.
Troy returns to action Friday afternoon against Morgan State in the Georgia State Thanksgiving Tournament. The game can be heard on WTBF-970 AM.
