Troy University Athletics
Trojans Run Away From New Orleans
12/19/2009 7:00:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. - The Troy University women's basketball team continued to show why they are one the best defensive teams in the country by holding another opponent to a low percentage shooting day, running away from the University of New Orleans 62-39 in the Sun Belt Conference opener Saturday morning.
"This win is a big win because it is the next game on the schedule," Troy head coach Michael Murphy said. "The fact that it is a conference game makes it more important. The fact that it is the conference opener just makes us feel good because we know we are off to a good start in conference play and it is good to head into the holidays.
"Our focus has always been the next game on the schedule is the most important game. Our philosophy is always to focus on one game at a time."
Troy (6-2, 1-0 Sun Belt), winners of three consecutive games, held New Orleans to just 25.9 (15-of-58) percent shooting from the floor and 23.8 (5-of-21) percent shooting from beyond the arc to win the conference opener for the first time since joining the Sun Belt five years ago.
"We have a pretty simple defensive philosophy," Murphy said. "We play half court man-to-man defense. We try to bend but not break, we don't want to give up lay-ups or uncontested shots. We want the other team to take as much time as they have to, and not give up second shots. The big key to our defense is rebound the basketball and not give up second chances."
Donette McNair recorded her fourth double-double of the season, and the ninth of her career, with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the victory. Freshman Sophie Kleeman added 14 points, while Brittnie Davis finished with eight points and 10 rebounds in the conference opener. Senior Alyce Shearing added eight points and nine rebounds.
"I am really excited about the play of Sophie," Murphy said. "That is two games in a row that she has played well. Donette played really good in the post, and I don't know if she knows how good she really is or can be. Brittnie and Alyce were real steady today and hit some big shots for us. And I was really happy about the play of Sarah McAppion today, she was able to come in and put some pressure on them defensively."
New Orleans (6-6, 0-2 Sun Belt) held the lead one time in the contest, holding it for just over two minutes, at 9-9 before Troy was able to take a 10-9 lead with 12:47 to play in the opening half on a McNair lay-up. After a pair of free throws by Talisha Young gave the Lady Privateers an 11-10 lead, the Trojans took the lead for good when Tenia Manuel connected on a lay-up with 11:41 remaining to give the Trojans a 12-11 lead.
The Trojans built a 20-point lead in the second half, and took their largest lead at the buzzer when McAppion drove for a lay-up as the buzzer sounded for the final margin. The Trojans held a 15-point advantage at halftime, before New Orleans was able to trim the lead to 38-29 with 14 minutes left to play in the contest. That is when Troy went on a 16-4 run over the next seven minutes to take a commanding 54-33 lead with 6:21 to play in the game.
Troy shot 40 (24-of-60) percent from the floor and 41.2 (7of-17) percent from beyond the arc, while outrebounding New Orleans 49-34 and forcing 15 Lady Privateer turnovers. The Trojans scored 30 points in the paint to just 11 by New Orleans, and added 16 second-chance points in the victory.
The Trojans travel to New York, taking on St. Francis College Tuesday afternoon in Brooklyn Heights. The game can be heard on WTBF-94.7 FM, beginning with the pre-game show at 3:45 and the top set for 4 pm.
"This win is a big win because it is the next game on the schedule," Troy head coach Michael Murphy said. "The fact that it is a conference game makes it more important. The fact that it is the conference opener just makes us feel good because we know we are off to a good start in conference play and it is good to head into the holidays.
"Our focus has always been the next game on the schedule is the most important game. Our philosophy is always to focus on one game at a time."
Troy (6-2, 1-0 Sun Belt), winners of three consecutive games, held New Orleans to just 25.9 (15-of-58) percent shooting from the floor and 23.8 (5-of-21) percent shooting from beyond the arc to win the conference opener for the first time since joining the Sun Belt five years ago.
"We have a pretty simple defensive philosophy," Murphy said. "We play half court man-to-man defense. We try to bend but not break, we don't want to give up lay-ups or uncontested shots. We want the other team to take as much time as they have to, and not give up second shots. The big key to our defense is rebound the basketball and not give up second chances."
Donette McNair recorded her fourth double-double of the season, and the ninth of her career, with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the victory. Freshman Sophie Kleeman added 14 points, while Brittnie Davis finished with eight points and 10 rebounds in the conference opener. Senior Alyce Shearing added eight points and nine rebounds.
"I am really excited about the play of Sophie," Murphy said. "That is two games in a row that she has played well. Donette played really good in the post, and I don't know if she knows how good she really is or can be. Brittnie and Alyce were real steady today and hit some big shots for us. And I was really happy about the play of Sarah McAppion today, she was able to come in and put some pressure on them defensively."
New Orleans (6-6, 0-2 Sun Belt) held the lead one time in the contest, holding it for just over two minutes, at 9-9 before Troy was able to take a 10-9 lead with 12:47 to play in the opening half on a McNair lay-up. After a pair of free throws by Talisha Young gave the Lady Privateers an 11-10 lead, the Trojans took the lead for good when Tenia Manuel connected on a lay-up with 11:41 remaining to give the Trojans a 12-11 lead.
The Trojans built a 20-point lead in the second half, and took their largest lead at the buzzer when McAppion drove for a lay-up as the buzzer sounded for the final margin. The Trojans held a 15-point advantage at halftime, before New Orleans was able to trim the lead to 38-29 with 14 minutes left to play in the contest. That is when Troy went on a 16-4 run over the next seven minutes to take a commanding 54-33 lead with 6:21 to play in the game.
Troy shot 40 (24-of-60) percent from the floor and 41.2 (7of-17) percent from beyond the arc, while outrebounding New Orleans 49-34 and forcing 15 Lady Privateer turnovers. The Trojans scored 30 points in the paint to just 11 by New Orleans, and added 16 second-chance points in the victory.
The Trojans travel to New York, taking on St. Francis College Tuesday afternoon in Brooklyn Heights. The game can be heard on WTBF-94.7 FM, beginning with the pre-game show at 3:45 and the top set for 4 pm.
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