Trojans Fall to Middle Tennessee on the Road Wednesday

Wednesday, January 19

Murfreesboro, TN

7:00 p.m.

Troy University

103

Middle Tennessee State University

Photo by: Troy University

Trojans Fall to Middle Tennessee on the Road Wednesday

1/19/2011 10:30:42 PM | Basketball (W)

The Blue Raiders proved too much for Troy in Sun Belt Conference play

By: Travis Jarome

Box Score

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Trojans shot nearly 50 percent from the floor, but it wasn't enough as Jordyn Luffman paced five Middle Tennessee State University players in double figures en route to the Blue Raiders claiming a 103-52 Sun Belt Conference victory Wednesday night.

Luffman shattered her career-high in the first half when she registered 17 points, en route to 19 for the contest. She shot 70 (7-for-10) percent from the floor and 60 (3-for-5) percent from beyond the arc for Middle Tennessee (15-4, 6-0 Sun Belt). She was joined in double figures by Icelyn Elie with a career-high 18 points, while Kortni Jones added 14 points.

Anne Marie Lanning added 12 points for Middle Tennessee, while Ebony Rowe was held below her season average with 11 points and five rebounds. It is the first time the Trojans have allowed five players to score in double figures for the opposition since Middle Tennessee did so in February of 2010.

Meanwhile, junior Tenia Manuel (Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg HS) scored a season-high 17 points for Troy (4-15, 1-5 Sun Belt) in the loss. She was just one off of her career-high, which was set last season on the road at FIU, as she shot 54.5 (6-for-11) percent from the floor. She also connected on her only three-pointer of the game and her four free throws.

Sophomore Jamesha Blake (Atlanta, Ga./SW DeKalb HS) tied her career-high with 10 points on the night as she shot 57.1 (4-for-7) from the floor in the loss. The Trojans leading scorer, junior DeAngela Sword (Montgomery, Ala./Pensacola JC) was held to just four points; snapping her 10-game consecutive streak of scoring in double figures.

The Trojans jumped out to an early 8-7 lead in the opening half off of four points each from Manuel and senior Donette McNair (New London, Conn./New London HS) in the first three minute of the game. However, Middle Tennessee went on a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to grab an insurmountable 19-8 lead over the Trojans.

Troy shot 48.7 (19-for-39) percent from the floor and just 12.5 (1-for-8) from beyond the arc. They also shot 72.2 (13-for-18) percent from the free throw line in the loss. The Trojans turned the ball over 32 times in the loss, which led to 53 points by Middle Tennessee.

Meanwhile, the Blue Raiders shot 52.7 (39-for-74) percent from the floor and 39.3 (11-for-28) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 70 (14-for-20) percent from the free throw line, and won the rebounding battle 38-24. The 103 points scored by Middle Tennessee is the first time an opponent has hit the century mark against Troy since the Blue Raiders did so in February 2010.

The Trojans return to action Saturday afternoon at 3 pm (CST) against WKU at E.A. Diddle Arena, with pregame at 2:45 pm (CST) on WTBF-94.7 FM.

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