Troy University Athletics
Trojans Fall To Lousiana Saturday
1/23/2010 11:00:00 PM | Basketball (W)
LAFAYETTE, La. - The hard luck continued for the Troy University women's basketball team, as they lost their third Sun Belt Conference game by three points or less on Saturday afternoon, falling to the University of Louisiana-Lafayette 70-67 at Earl K. Long Gymnasium.
Troy (10-8, 3-6 Sun Belt) has lost four of their five conference games by combined 14 points, with the most coming Wednesday night against WKU.
On Saturday, the Trojans found themselves down by as many as 14 points in the contest but fought their way back into the game with two possessions down the stretch with a chance to tie the game. They had a chance to pull within a point on two other possessions, including their last with under 10 seconds to play in the game.
“I am proud of the girls effort today,” Troy head coach Michael Murphy said. “I am proud of the way they fought to get back into the contest in the second half. We just had too many obstacles to overcome today. We rebounded the ball well against a very athletic team, we just couldn't get to the line enough when we needed to.”
Brittnie Davis continued her career week for the Trojans this week, as she led the Trojans with a game-high 23 points - ending the week with 52 points in two games. She finished the day shooting 8-of-12 from the floor and 6-of-8 from the free throw line in 26 minutes of action.
“Once again Brittnie Davis was an absolute warrior for us today,” Murphy said. “I thought she played as well as she could play. Brittnie is playing with real purpose and passion. For a fifth-year senior it is something special to watch, and in 22 years of coaching I have had a handful of players who let the game of basketball become a part of their soul and that is something special.”
Freshman Sophie Kleeman was the only other player in double figures for the Trojans as she scored 16 points. She also added six rebounds and five assists in 40 minutes of action for the Trojans, while shooting 7-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-3 beyond the arc.
“I think Sophie Kleeman has really come of age,” Murphy said. “She has proven to be a very effective point guard in a very competitive league, which is tough to do as a freshman.”
The Trojans shot 45.8 (27-of-59) percent from the floor and 38.5 (5-of-13) percent from beyond the arc. The Trojans were only able to get to the free throw line for 14 opportunities, connecting on 57.1 (8-of-14) percent from the charity stripe. They also outrebounded Louisiana-Lafayette 42-27 (including 17 offensive rebounds).
Mercedes Johnson led Louisiana-Lafayette (8-12, 3-5 Sun Belt) with 19 points and seven rebounds, while shooting 5-of-12 from the floor and 9-of-19 from the free throw line. Alexis Green added 16, while Lyndra Bell scored 15 points off the bench for the Ragin' Cajuns.
The Ragin' Cajuns shot 51.0 (25-of-49) percent from the floor and 62.5 (5-of-8) percent from beyond the arc.
The Trojans found themselves down by double digits at 52-40 when Davis went on a 7-0 run to key a nine-point run for the Trojans that trimmed the lead to 52-49 with 10:18 to play in the contest. Louisiana-Lafayette was able to back to 10 at 59-49 with 7:49 to play in the contest, before Troy closed to gap to five, 63-58, with 4:50 to play in the game.
From that point things got interesting as Johnson connected on 1-of-2 free throws to push the lead to 65-58 with 4:01 to play, before Kirsten Smith connected on a put back with 3:38 to play to pull the Trojans to within 66-60.
Louisiana-Lafayette pushed the lead back to 68-60 when Jamie Gunter came off the bench for a lay-up, before Kleeman was able to answer with a lay-up with 3:10 to play to trim the lead to 68-62. Davis brought the Trojans to within four with 2:28 to play, at 68-64; before Cortney Hawkins connected on 1-of-2 free throws to bring the Trojans to within 68-65.
Nicole Morris connected on a free throw to push the Ragin' Cajuns lead to 69-65, before Davis hit a jumper with 13 seconds remaining to pull the Trojans within a basket at 69-67. Following a timeout, Johnson stepped to the line to shot two free throws and connected on one of them with 11.6 seconds to play to give the Cajuns a three-point lead. Unfortunately for the Trojans, they were unable to get a clean look at the basket on their final possession as the horn sounded.
Troy returns to action Wednesday night at Trojan Arena against ULM. The game tips at 7 pm, with the pregame show on WTBF-94.7 FM beginning at 6:45 pm.
For information on how you can follow the Trojans to Hot Springs, Arkansas for the Sun Belt Conference Basketball Tournament call the Troy University Athletics Ticket Office at 1-877-878-WINS (9467).
Troy (10-8, 3-6 Sun Belt) has lost four of their five conference games by combined 14 points, with the most coming Wednesday night against WKU.
On Saturday, the Trojans found themselves down by as many as 14 points in the contest but fought their way back into the game with two possessions down the stretch with a chance to tie the game. They had a chance to pull within a point on two other possessions, including their last with under 10 seconds to play in the game.
“I am proud of the girls effort today,” Troy head coach Michael Murphy said. “I am proud of the way they fought to get back into the contest in the second half. We just had too many obstacles to overcome today. We rebounded the ball well against a very athletic team, we just couldn't get to the line enough when we needed to.”
Brittnie Davis continued her career week for the Trojans this week, as she led the Trojans with a game-high 23 points - ending the week with 52 points in two games. She finished the day shooting 8-of-12 from the floor and 6-of-8 from the free throw line in 26 minutes of action.
“Once again Brittnie Davis was an absolute warrior for us today,” Murphy said. “I thought she played as well as she could play. Brittnie is playing with real purpose and passion. For a fifth-year senior it is something special to watch, and in 22 years of coaching I have had a handful of players who let the game of basketball become a part of their soul and that is something special.”
Freshman Sophie Kleeman was the only other player in double figures for the Trojans as she scored 16 points. She also added six rebounds and five assists in 40 minutes of action for the Trojans, while shooting 7-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-3 beyond the arc.
“I think Sophie Kleeman has really come of age,” Murphy said. “She has proven to be a very effective point guard in a very competitive league, which is tough to do as a freshman.”
The Trojans shot 45.8 (27-of-59) percent from the floor and 38.5 (5-of-13) percent from beyond the arc. The Trojans were only able to get to the free throw line for 14 opportunities, connecting on 57.1 (8-of-14) percent from the charity stripe. They also outrebounded Louisiana-Lafayette 42-27 (including 17 offensive rebounds).
Mercedes Johnson led Louisiana-Lafayette (8-12, 3-5 Sun Belt) with 19 points and seven rebounds, while shooting 5-of-12 from the floor and 9-of-19 from the free throw line. Alexis Green added 16, while Lyndra Bell scored 15 points off the bench for the Ragin' Cajuns.
The Ragin' Cajuns shot 51.0 (25-of-49) percent from the floor and 62.5 (5-of-8) percent from beyond the arc.
The Trojans found themselves down by double digits at 52-40 when Davis went on a 7-0 run to key a nine-point run for the Trojans that trimmed the lead to 52-49 with 10:18 to play in the contest. Louisiana-Lafayette was able to back to 10 at 59-49 with 7:49 to play in the contest, before Troy closed to gap to five, 63-58, with 4:50 to play in the game.
From that point things got interesting as Johnson connected on 1-of-2 free throws to push the lead to 65-58 with 4:01 to play, before Kirsten Smith connected on a put back with 3:38 to play to pull the Trojans to within 66-60.
Louisiana-Lafayette pushed the lead back to 68-60 when Jamie Gunter came off the bench for a lay-up, before Kleeman was able to answer with a lay-up with 3:10 to play to trim the lead to 68-62. Davis brought the Trojans to within four with 2:28 to play, at 68-64; before Cortney Hawkins connected on 1-of-2 free throws to bring the Trojans to within 68-65.
Nicole Morris connected on a free throw to push the Ragin' Cajuns lead to 69-65, before Davis hit a jumper with 13 seconds remaining to pull the Trojans within a basket at 69-67. Following a timeout, Johnson stepped to the line to shot two free throws and connected on one of them with 11.6 seconds to play to give the Cajuns a three-point lead. Unfortunately for the Trojans, they were unable to get a clean look at the basket on their final possession as the horn sounded.
Troy returns to action Wednesday night at Trojan Arena against ULM. The game tips at 7 pm, with the pregame show on WTBF-94.7 FM beginning at 6:45 pm.
For information on how you can follow the Trojans to Hot Springs, Arkansas for the Sun Belt Conference Basketball Tournament call the Troy University Athletics Ticket Office at 1-877-878-WINS (9467).
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