Trojans Welcome Belhaven to Sartain Hall Saturday Afternoon

Saturday, December 4

Troy, AL

2:00 p.m.

Troy University

Belhaven University (Miss.)

Trojans Welcome Belhaven to Sartain Hall Saturday Afternoon

12/2/2010 2:07:41 PM | Basketball (W)

The game will mark the second of three consecutive home games for the Trojans

By: Travis Jarome

Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Video

TROY, Ala. – The Troy University Trojans women's basketball team will be looking to bounce from their first conference loss of the season as they welcome Belhaven (Miss.) University into Sartain Hall for a Saturday afternoon matchup.

Troy (1-6, 0-1 Sun Belt) is in the middle of exam week, but will take a break to welcome in the Blazers for a non-conference matchup; looking to end a string of back-to-back losses.

“Our next game on our schedule is the most important game,” head coach Michael Murphy said. “It doesn't matter who that team is or what level they are playing at, that is the most important game on our schedule – the next game.”

Belhaven (6-3) comes into the contest winning their last game, a 66-32 victory over former Sun Belt Conference member New Orleans. The win snapped a two-game skid by Belhaven who opened the season winning their first four games.

The Blazers are led by Sarah Carr, averaging 13.4 points per game and is second on the team in assists with 28. Meanwhile, Kiara Johnson averages 10.6 points per game and is first on the team in assists with 34 through nine games this season.

The Trojans come into the contest still without three of their top scorers as sophomore Cortney Hawkins (Birmingham, Ala.) is out until at least January, junior Kirsten Smith (Pensacola, Fla./Washington HS) is out at least two more weeks and junior Sarah McAppion (Canberra, Australia/AIS) is out for the year.

However, they have a pair of players averaging double figures currently in senior Donette McNair (New London, Conn./New London HS) and junior DeAngela Sword (Montgomery, Ala./Pensacola JC). McNair leads the team in scoring at 14.6 points and also leads the team in rebounding at 9.9 rebounds per game. Sword is second on the team in both categories at 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Junior Tenia Manuel (Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg HS) is averaging 8.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Although the record may not indicate the Trojans have done some things well as evident in the post-game press conference with Murphy on Wednesday night.

“We did some things well against WKU,” Murphy said. “I thought we played hard and I thought we executed, I thought when we did execute that we got high percentage shots. I see us growing as a team, I see other people stepping up to take over some leadership responsibilities which is something we need more of for the rest of the season.”

The Trojans have outrebounded six of eight of their opponents this season, and just shot 50 percent from the floor against one of the better teams in the Sun Belt – WKU, who was picked to win the East Division.

“We shot the ball really well against them,” Murphy said. “Anytime you can shoot 50 percent against a team like that, as well-coached as they are, that is something you can hang your hat on.”

The meeting with Belhaven will be the fifth meeting between the two schools, with Troy leading the all-time series 3-1; including a perfect 3-0 under Murphy. The teams have met three times in Troy, with the Trojans winning all three meetings – including an 84-54 victory last season.

Live stats and live video will be provided by the Troy University Athletics Media Relations Office. For ticket information, contact the Troy University Athletics Ticket Office at 1-877-87-WINS (9467).

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