Troy University Athletics
Seeding At Stake in In-State Battle
2/27/2009 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. - The Troy University Trojans and University of South Alabama Lady Jags will renew their rivalry in the regular season finale at Trojan Arena Wednesday night.
When the game tips off at 5:15 pm, the in-state rivalry will begin anew with more than bragging rights on the line in this contest. If South Alabama wins, couple with a WKU loss to Middle Tennessee; the Lady Jags will be the third seed and receive a bye to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinals. If Troy wins, coupled with losses by WKU and Denver - the Sun Belt Conference office will figure out who receives the by to Hot Springs as there will be a three-way tie between South Alabama, Troy and WKU for third place.
However, there is still a game to be played to figure out where the standings will be at the end of the weekend and which teams will go on the road in the first round; one thing is for certain, and that is Troy will host a home game if it is not the third seed in the tournament.
Troy (14-13, 9-8 Sun Belt), in the midst of their best season ever in the Sun Belt Conference, can finish no lower than seventh in the conference standings and currently stand tied with Denver and Arkansas State at fifth - but would be the sixth seed based on tiebreakers with Denver and Arkansas State.
The Trojans and South Alabama (19-9, 10-7) have met one time this season, with the Lady Jags taking a 68-60 victory at the Mitchell Center. In that contest, the Trojans held the lead heading into the last five minutes, but a pair of 3-pointers from South Alabama jumpstarted a run that sent South Alabama to the victory. The Lady Jags were led by Ra'Shawna Sippio with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Shakira Nettles added 16 and Jessica Starling 11. The Trojans were led by Kylie Morrissy with a then-career high 28 points, while Donette McNair added nine points and 15 rebounds.
At that point in the season, the Trojans were beginning a four-game losing streak highlighted by three road losses.
That was then, and this is now.
Troy has won five-of-six contests, and six of their last eight contests - including four consecutive wins on the road. During that stretch, have been led by Morrissy averaging 17 points per game. Junior Alyce Shearing, who has posted two games of 20 or more points during the run, is averaging 12.4 points and senior Brittnie Davis is averaging 11.8 points per game. Although coming off the bench in the last three games, McNair is averaging 8.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game; while senior Larelle Roper has recorded four or more assists in each game.
On the season, the Trojans are led by a pair of players in double figures - Morrissy at 17 points per game and McNair at 10.9 points per game.
This season, Troy has recorded road wins at North Texas, FIU and Louisiana-Lafayette for the first time in school history. They also defeated WKU for the first time in school history a couple of weeks ago. Although Troy leads the all-time series 14-11, the Trojans have never defeated the Lady Jags since joining the Sun Belt Conference.
The game tips at 5:15 pm a Trojan Arena. For ticket information, contact the Troy University Athletics Ticket Office at 1-877-878-WINS. The game will be broadcast on WTBF-94.7 FM with Buddy Johnson and Travis Jarome providing all the action. The game will be tape-delayed on Trojan Vision, so be loud, be proud and wear your Cardinal on Saturday.
