Troy University Athletics
Trojans Respond With Victory During Finals
12/5/2009 10:30:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. - The Troy women's basketball team returned to the hardwood a week after playing their last game and in the midst of finals. The Trojans responded with a resounding 84-54 victory over visiting Belhaven in non-conference action at Trojan Arena on Saturday afternoon.
“Exam week is a tough week because you get out of your routine,” Troy head coach Michael Murphy said. “That that is why you have to schedule a game on Saturday. I thought we got out of this game what we needed to get out of it in terms of the way we played. They put some pressure on us, they are very well-coached and they made us play to win the game. I think the score is a little deceiving, because they played better than that would indicate.”
Troy (4-2) held just a one-point lead at 6-5 with 18:09 to play in the opening half, before going on a 37-20 run to close the half.
The Trojans had to shake the rust off in the opening moments game when Belhaven pulled within a basket just a couple of minutes in action. Troy was able to forge ahead with 13-3 run over the next five minutes of action to take a commanding 19-8 lead with 13:55 remaining in the opening half.
The run was keyed by Alyce Shearing, Sarah McAppion and Tenia Manuel combining score all but two points in the run.
“I think our bench played well today,” Murphy said. “Sarah (McAppion) and Tenia (Manuel) came off the bench and played well today. I thought their play was huge. They gave us an offensive lift, they made some great shots in rhythm and we were able to do some things in the low post. I was really pleased with our balance and our effort.”
The duo helped pace the Trojans bench, who outscored Belhaven 37-6 in the contest, and also outscored Belhaven 40-18 in the paint on the afternoon.
After forging ahead in the first half, the Trojans continued to put pressure on Belhaven (6-3) in the second half, going up as many as 31 with just 7:05 remaining in the contest.
McAppion paced four players in double figures for the Trojans as she scored a career-high 19 points off the bench on the afternoon on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor (including connecting on all three 3-point opportunities). Shearing finished with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor, while Donette McNair finished with her third double-double of the season and ninth of her career (14 points and 14 rebounds). Manuel finished off the double-digit scoring for the Trojans with 12 poitns off the bench.
“We had good balance on scoring,” Murphy said. “We played good on defense in terms of rotating to the ball. But like I said finals week is always tough and you want to put yourself in a good situation without putting the student-athletes academics in jeopardy.”
Meanwhile, Sarah Carr paced Belhaven with 16 points, while leading scorer Jira Williams was held to just eight on the afternoon - but she did join the Belhaven 1,000-point club with her third basket of the game.
Troy shot a season-best 60.7 (34-of-56) percent from the floor, 50 (8-of-16) percent from beyond the arc, while shooting 53.3 (8-of-15) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Belhaven shot 30.6 (19-of-62) percent from the floor and just 31.6 (6-of-19) percent from beyond the arc.
The Trojans return to action next Saturday afternoon at 2 pm against Austin Peay State University.
“We have to get ready to play a tough team in Austin Peay,” Murphy said. “They are the defending Ohio Valley Conference champion whom we beat last year at their place. They are going to come in with a chip on the shoulder and be looking for some revenge. We just have to prepare the best we can with it being another week of finals.”
The game at Trojan Arena can be heard on WTBF-94.7 FM with Buddy Johnson providing the play-by-play.
“Exam week is a tough week because you get out of your routine,” Troy head coach Michael Murphy said. “That that is why you have to schedule a game on Saturday. I thought we got out of this game what we needed to get out of it in terms of the way we played. They put some pressure on us, they are very well-coached and they made us play to win the game. I think the score is a little deceiving, because they played better than that would indicate.”
Troy (4-2) held just a one-point lead at 6-5 with 18:09 to play in the opening half, before going on a 37-20 run to close the half.
The Trojans had to shake the rust off in the opening moments game when Belhaven pulled within a basket just a couple of minutes in action. Troy was able to forge ahead with 13-3 run over the next five minutes of action to take a commanding 19-8 lead with 13:55 remaining in the opening half.
The run was keyed by Alyce Shearing, Sarah McAppion and Tenia Manuel combining score all but two points in the run.
“I think our bench played well today,” Murphy said. “Sarah (McAppion) and Tenia (Manuel) came off the bench and played well today. I thought their play was huge. They gave us an offensive lift, they made some great shots in rhythm and we were able to do some things in the low post. I was really pleased with our balance and our effort.”
The duo helped pace the Trojans bench, who outscored Belhaven 37-6 in the contest, and also outscored Belhaven 40-18 in the paint on the afternoon.
After forging ahead in the first half, the Trojans continued to put pressure on Belhaven (6-3) in the second half, going up as many as 31 with just 7:05 remaining in the contest.
McAppion paced four players in double figures for the Trojans as she scored a career-high 19 points off the bench on the afternoon on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor (including connecting on all three 3-point opportunities). Shearing finished with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor, while Donette McNair finished with her third double-double of the season and ninth of her career (14 points and 14 rebounds). Manuel finished off the double-digit scoring for the Trojans with 12 poitns off the bench.
“We had good balance on scoring,” Murphy said. “We played good on defense in terms of rotating to the ball. But like I said finals week is always tough and you want to put yourself in a good situation without putting the student-athletes academics in jeopardy.”
Meanwhile, Sarah Carr paced Belhaven with 16 points, while leading scorer Jira Williams was held to just eight on the afternoon - but she did join the Belhaven 1,000-point club with her third basket of the game.
Troy shot a season-best 60.7 (34-of-56) percent from the floor, 50 (8-of-16) percent from beyond the arc, while shooting 53.3 (8-of-15) percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Belhaven shot 30.6 (19-of-62) percent from the floor and just 31.6 (6-of-19) percent from beyond the arc.
The Trojans return to action next Saturday afternoon at 2 pm against Austin Peay State University.
“We have to get ready to play a tough team in Austin Peay,” Murphy said. “They are the defending Ohio Valley Conference champion whom we beat last year at their place. They are going to come in with a chip on the shoulder and be looking for some revenge. We just have to prepare the best we can with it being another week of finals.”
The game at Trojan Arena can be heard on WTBF-94.7 FM with Buddy Johnson providing the play-by-play.
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