Troy Falls to Top Conference Opponent

Wednesday, January 25

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

7:00 p.m.

Troy University

Middle Tennessee State University

Photo by: Edward Fieder

1/25/2012 8:54:00 PM | Basketball (W)

Troy women's basketball fell to Middle Tennessee on the road Wednesday 82-52.

By: Ben Maxwell

Box Score | Game Recap

Murfreesboro, Tenn. – Troy women's basketball fell to the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on the road Wednesday 82-52. The victory maintains Middle Tennessee's undefeated conference streak.

“We simply got beat tonight,” head coach Michael Murphy said.

“Middle Tennessee came out with a purpose. They are exceptionally well coached and played very hard. They took advantage of some things early which put us in a hole. I really appreciate my girls competing. There were a few times in the game we could have folded our tent but we didn't. We came back in the second and cut down their lead, but Middle Tennessee being the good team they are responded.”

Senior DeAngela Sword led Troy in scoring with 10 total points; however multiple Trojans aided in the scoring effort. Ieva Nagy, Brooke Bowie, Jasmine Pitts and Tenia Manuel all recorded six points. 9 of the 11 Trojans on the floor went on to record three points or more to give Troy a 46% shooting average from the floor; their second best of the season.

The Trojans struggled to stop the hot shooting streak of Middle Tennessee's Icelyn Elie and Kortni Jones, who both totaled 24 points each.

Middle Tennessee (16-6, 9-0 Sun Belt) went up on Troy (1-18, 0-8) early with a 20-4 point run in the first eight minutes. The Trojans muscled their way back with the help of sophomore Ieva Nagy. Back to back 3-pointers by Nagy gave her 100% from 3-point land and the Trojans a spark going into halftime down 42-27.

The Blue Raiders continued their scoring streak into the second half, setting the pace with a 17-4 run in the first six minutes of the final half. Full court pressure hindered the Trojan's offense, helping to create 26 Troy turnovers which the Blue Raiders turned into 43 points.

Troy went on to close out the game with a 9-0 run, but would fall to MTSU 82-52.

“We just have to learn from this and keep moving forward,” Murphy said.

Troy now has only a short time to recover before traveling to Mobile, Alabama to take on South Alabama on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 3:00pm.