Troy University Athletics
Trojans Hit Road To ULM
12/28/2009 9:00:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. - While most teams were home during the holiday season, the Troy women's basketball team was on the road to New York where they won their fourth consecutive game last Tuesday. This week, the Trojans are at it again, hitting the road for the long journey to Monroe to face the ULM Warhawks on Wednesday night.
Troy (7-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) will be in search of their fifth consecutive victory in a setting that has not been kind over the years to the Trojans, as they are 3-2 overall in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The two teams have met in Monroe in each of the last three seasons, with ULM (5-6, 0-2 Sun Belt) winning two of those battles including last year's 70-42 victory over Troy on CSS.
Although Fant-Ewing Coliseum has not been kind to the Trojans, it will have a lasting impression on the history of the Troy women's basketball program. In March 2008, the Trojans traveled to Monroe for the opening round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and upset ULM 66-65 on a last-second lay-up by Kylie Morrissy. That victory sent the Trojans to the Sun Belt Conference quarterfinals a week later.
There are not many faces left at either program from that contest, albeit the Trojans have three players who have played at Fant-Ewing over the last three seasons. Junior Donette McNair leads the Trojans in scoring and rebounding this season, averaging a double-double thus far and is among the conference's best in each. Senior Brittnie Davis is second on the team in scoring at 10.3 points per game and has recorded 24 total steals this season, while senior Alyce Shearing is third on the team in scoring at 10.1 points per game and is among the best in the conference in three-point shooting.
Meanwhile, Sophie Kleeman is averaging 9.7 points per game from her point guard position and is looking to become the first freshman in five years to average double figures in scoring. Sophomore Sarah McAppion has also been instrumental for the Trojans this season, as she leads all bench players in scoring and recorded her first career double-double Tuesday against St. Francis (11 points and 10 rebounds).
Troy will be tested defensively by ULM Wednesday night, as they put their top five defense on the line against the Warhawks. The Trojans are second in the country in 3-point field goal percentage defense and fourth in field goal percentage defense, but will face a ULM team that is 2-1 at home this season and has connected on 36 three-pointers. The Warhawks are led by Priscilla Mbiandja, averaging 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game from her guard position, while Jesse Carrier is averaging 10.1 points per game while shooting 30.6 percent from beyond the arc.
The Trojans will be looking to keep pace with Florida Atlantic, who leads the East Division with a conference record of 2-0, and Denver, who leads the West Division with the same record. Both of those teams are on the upcoming schedule for the Trojans, who will be looking to open the season with back-to-back conference victories since joining the Sun Belt Conference five years ago.
Troy is off to the second-best nine-game start in school history, only trailing the 8-1 start of the 1991-92 team. However, they are off to the best start in school history since joining the ranks of Division I.
The Trojans will depart Tuesday headed for Monroe and a 7 pm Wednesday night tip at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The game can be heard on WTBF-94.7 FM beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 pm. Live stats will also be available, and the broadcast will be streamed live over the internet.
