Hot-Shooting American Downs Troy

Wednesday, December 22

Washington, DC

7:00 p.m. (EST)

Troy University

American University

Photo by: Troy University

12/22/2010 9:11:16 PM | Basketball (W)

Trojans will take a few days off for Christmas Holidays

By: Travis Jarome

Box Score

WASHINGTON, DC – For the fourth time this season, the Troy University women's basketball faced a favorite to win their respective conference and a six-day road trip proved too much for the Trojans on Wednesday night.

The Trojans fell to American University 83-49 in non-conference action at Bender Arena, a contest in which the Patriot League favorites shot over 60 percent from the floor until the final seconds. The game was also the fifth time the Trojans have faced a team that played in the postseason last year.

“They simply couldn't miss and we couldn't kick it in the ocean if we were standing on the pier,” Troy head coach Michael Murphy said. It was one of those types of games. It didn't matter where they shot it from; from outside the three-point line or from inside the three-point line or at the block. Good shot, bad shot, indifferent; it didn't matter because it was going in. No matter how good our shot was, it wasn't going in and that is not a good combination.”

The two teams played neck-and-neck for the first four minutes of the game, with American holding a 10-7 lead before the first media timeout. However, after the media timeout, American (7-4) came out on fire and went on a 19-2 run over the next eight minutes to take a 27-9 lead midway through the first half.

The Eagles kept the momentum and the run going, as they outscored 30-8 over a total of 13 minutes to take a 40-15 lead with 3:54 remaining in the first half. During the run, the Eagles were 13-of-19 from the floor to run out to the huge lead.

The game was the third in five days for the Trojans, who are in the midst of a six day-two state road trip. They will return home following the contest, after having played just four home games out of their first 12 of the season.

“It has been a long road trip,” Murphy said. “I know the kids are tired, and it will be nice to get home and get some rest. I know we have some tired kids. We will hit the ground running in getting prepared for the Georgia State Tournament after Christmas.”

Donette McNair (New London, Conn./New London HS) led the Trojans with her sixth double-double of the season as she scored 16 points and added 10 rebounds. Junior DeAngela Sword (Montgomery, Ala./Pensacola JC) added 11 points in the loss.

Freshman Dominique Ross (Covington, Tenn./Covington HS) scored a career-high nine points off the bench – all in the second half – while sophomore Sophie Kleeman (Newcastle, Australia/Newcastle HS) added eight points in 40 minutes after being injured on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Lisa Strack led American with 24 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the floor; while Liz Leer added 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor. Stephanie Anya added 10 in the victory.

American shot 54.8 (34-of-62) percent from the floor, after shooting 64.7 (22-of-34) percent from the floor in the first half. They also shot 42.9 (9-of-21) percent from beyond the arc and 60 (6-of-10 ) percent from the free throw line. The Eagles also dished out 24 total assists, while winning the rebounding battle 38-33.

Meanwhile, the Trojans shot 32.2 (19-of-59) percent from the floor and 21.4 (3-of-14) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 66.7 (8-of-12) percent from the free throw line.

Troy returns to action December 29 at 4 pm (EST) against Hampton University – yet another team who played in the NCAA Tournament a year ago – at the Georgia State Invitational. The game will be carried on WTBF-94.7 FM beginning at 3:45 pm (EST) with the pregame show.

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