Trojans Look To Rebound Against Elon On Sunday

Sunday, November 14

Elon, NC

1:00 p.m. (EST)

Troy University

Elon University

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Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

Trojans Look To Rebound Against Elon On Sunday

11/13/2010 3:31:43 PM | Basketball (W)

Troy will be playing their second game in three days at the Phoenix Classic

By: Travis Jarome

Game Notes | Live Audio | Live Video | Live Stats | Gameday Central

ELON, N.C. – The Troy University women's basketball team will look to rebound after a season-opening loss on Friday, as they hit the floor on Sunday afternoon against Elon University in the final game of the Phoenix Classic.

The game tips at 1 pm (EST) from Alumni Gym on the campus of Elon. There will be live stats, audio and video provided – with each being found on TroyTrojans.com.

Troy (0-1) looks to rebound from a 77-60 opening loss to Stony Brook (NY) University on Friday, a game in which the Trojans had four players score in double figures in the loss.

Senior Donette McNair (New London, Conn.) led the way with 17 points, while DeAngela Sword (Montgomery, Ala.) added 16. Kirsten Smith (Pensacola, Fla.) and Tenia Manuel (Leesburg, Fla.) both chipped in with 10 points in the loss.

Although the Trojans had four players in double figures, the biggest reasons for concern for head coach Michael Murphy were the turnovers and injuries his team has suffered this season.

Troy recorded 18 turnovers in the first half, albeit trailing by a single point at the half. The Trojans shot 45 percent from the floor and over 50 percent from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes, and they had a chance to take the lead late.

“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.”

The injuries have also become a concern for the Trojans this season. Troy entered the year with six of their top eight returning scorers from a season, but prior to the preseason the Trojans lost junior Sarah McAppion (Canberra, Australia) and sophomore Cortney Hawkins (Birmingham, Ala.). The problems got worse on Friday as Smith left the floor in the second half after suffering a head injury and will not play in the game on Sunday. That leaves the Trojans with just three players returning as scorers from a season ago – McNair, Manuel and Sophie Kleeman (Newcastle, Australia).

“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,” Murphy said. “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 will face an Elon (1-0) team that defeated Fordham in the nightcap on Friday afternoon 91-77. It will be the first meeting between the two schools in the history of the programs.

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