Trojans Can't Overcome First Half Turnovers and Second Half Run

Friday, November 12

Elon, NC

12:30 p.m.(EST)

Troy University

Stony Brook University

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

Trojans Can't Overcome First Half Turnovers and Second Half Run

11/12/2010 3:01:08 PM | Basketball (W)

Troy commits 18 first half turnovers and couldn't get any closer than five in second half

By: Travis Jarome

Box Score | Post Game Notes

ELON, N.C. – Despite four players scoring in double figures, the Troy University women's basketball team could not overcome a second half surge by Stony Brook as they fell to the Seawolves 77-60 in the season-opener at the Phoenix Classic.

Senior Donette McNair (New London, Conn.) led the Trojans with 17 points and eight rebounds, while junior DeAngela Sword (Montgomery, Ala.) came off the bench to add 16 in the loss. Juniors Tenia Manuel (Leesburg, Fla.) and Kirsten Smith (Pensacola, Fla.) each added 10 for Troy (0-1).

“I thought we did a lot of good things today,” Troy head coach Michael Murphy said. “We had good shot selection and played well with our rebounding and our versatility, scoring from several different spots on the floor.”

The Trojans found themselves down by just one point at the half, 32-31, despite committing 18 first half turnovers. They found themselves down by as many as six points in the first half, before a rally in the final five minutes before intermission tied the contest up at 31-all.

“The real problem in the game was that we had 18 first half turnovers,” Murphy said. “We shot over 40 percent from the floor and 50 from the three-point line; so if you can take some of those turnovers away, which is a learning process with all the young players we have on the floor, I thought we could have had a big first half.”

Down 26-21 with 5:08, a free throw by Manuel and three-pointer off the bench by Ieva Nagy (Adelaide, Australia) got the Trojans to within a single-point at 26-25 with 3:28 to play in the half. However, Stony Brook (1-0) answered the run by the Trojans with a three-pointer from Jodie Plikus to push the lead back to four at 29-25 with 3:10 left in the half.

After trading free throws, the Trojans scored the next five points of the half off a lay-up by McNair and a three-pointer by Smith to tie the contest at 31-all. Stony Brook would get a free throw from Kirsten Jeter to take the halftime lead of 32-31.

In the second half, Stony Brook opened the half on a 9-2 run to push their lead to 41-33 with 17:13 to play in the contest. The Trojans fought to get it within six at 41-35, but Stony Brook was able to counter and build an insurmountable lead.

Troy continuously closed the gap in the second half for the first nine minutes, pulling as close as five with 11:32 to play at 53-48 on a three-point play by McNair. However, Stony Brook was able to answer with a 22-12 run over the final 11 minutes for the victory.

“In the second half we just didn't shoot the ball very well,” Murphy said. “Some of that was a bi-product of their defense; some of it was a bi-product of us just not hitting shots.”

Destiny Jacobs came off the bench for Stony Brook to lead them with 18 points, while Misha Horsey added 12 and Juanita Cochran 11 in the victory. The Trojans held Jeter – the leading scorer last season – to just nine points.

“We were able to hold their leading scorer five points below her average,” Murphy said. “That speaks volumes for the work we did defensively on her during the course of the game.”

The Seawolves shot 43.1 (28-for-65) percent from the floor, 35.3 (6-for-17) percent from beyond the arc and 83.3 (15-for-18) from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Troy shot 35.3 (18-for-51) percent from the floor, 33.3 (5-for-15) percent from beyond the arc and 76 (19-of-25) percent from the free throw line in the loss.

The Trojans outrebounded Stony Brook 40-34, but turned the ball over 25 times in the contest.

“I am very pleased with our rebounding,” Murphy said. “We had 40 rebounds, and half of our baskets came off of assists which speaks to unselfish play. We had four people in double figures, so there is a lot to build on. I do have some concerns with injuries as we all ready had our starting two-guard out and our sixth person from last year out. Now we lose Mookie (Smith) for a while after getting hurt today. We are just going to have to deal with the injuries. While one or two players are out, that affords others an opportunity to step up and take advantage of the playing time.”

The Trojans return to action Sunday afternoon at 1 pm (EST) against the host team, Elon University. It will be the first meeting between the two schools.

“I was very encouraged by a lot of things,” Murphy said. “Obviously we have to take care of the basketball. You can't have that many turnovers and expect to win a ballgame. I was pleased with the rebounding – that is an effort stat – and I was pleased with the assist to turnover ratio, as well as the balanced scoring. We got pounded inside and it really showed in the second half. We get a day off and then we play again on Sunday against Elon.”

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