Troy University Athletics
Thursday, February 11
Troy, Ala.
5:15 p.m.
Troy University
11-11, 6-7
84
vs
68
Georgia Southern
7-15, 4-9
1
2
3
4
F
Georgia Southern
14
8
22
24
68
Troy
21
17
21
25
84
Team Stats
GS
TROY
FG%
.417
.419
3FG%
.150
.353
FT%
.556
.667
RB
43
41
TO
21
16
STL
8
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
26
FGM
10
3FGM
6
FTM
0
Pts
24
FGM
8
3FGM
5
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Basketball (W)F
/ Basketball (W)
G
/ Basketball (W)F
/ Basketball (W)G
/ Basketball (W)Photo by: Chris Davis
Troy Halts Skid Behind Saunders’, Beverly Kelley’s Performances
2/11/2016 8:38:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Alabama – The Troy women's basketball team snapped a six-game losing streak behind a strong effort from its starting backcourt, beating Georgia Southern, 84-68, at Trojan Arena on Thursday night.
Troy (11-11, 6-7) was led by ArJae' Saunders who scored a career-high 26 points, thanks in large part to 6-of-8 shooting from deep, and Ashley Beverly Kelley who added 24 points with 5-of-15 from deep for her fourth straight 20-point game. Each guard added eight rebounds, Beverly Kelley had five assists and three steals and Saunders dished out four assists.
The third member of the starting backcourt, Amanda Mendoza, record a team-high six assists and just one turnover. Caitlyn Ramirez, with 11 points, and Casie Johnson, with a career-high 10 points, were also in double figures for Troy.
After starting slow, Troy closed the first quarter on a 9-0 run that was capped by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Saunders. That gave the Trojans a 21-14 lead after 10 minutes, and they led the rest of the night. Saunders led all players with 13 points at halftime.
"I thought that ArJae' Saunders held the rope for us in the first half," Troy head coach Chanda Rigby said. "Not only with her shooting, but with her seven rebounds in the first half. That just showed how bad she wanted to come out and win tonight.
"In the second half she kept contributing, but Ashley Beverly Kelley really came through and kept the game out of reach. Ashley had some crucial rebounds down the stretch and they both hit big shots."
Troy led by 15 points after three quarters, 59-44, but turned the ball over five times early in the fourth quarter as Georgia Southern (7-15, 4-9) began to come back. The Eagles cut the lead down to seven points twice, but Saunders and Beverly Kelley responded with 3-pointers to bump the lead back to 10 points each time.
Beverly Kelley really iced the game with 14 points in the fourth quarter, including including three of her 3-pointers and stretch where she scored 11 of Troy's final 16 points.
The Trojans tied a season-high with 12 3-pointers against Georgia Southern's zone, hitting 12-of-34 from deep. Georgia Southern, on the other hand, made just 3-of-20 from long range.
In all, Troy shot 41.9 percent (31-of-74) from the field after making just 15-of-40 (37.5 percent) in the first half. Georgia Southern also struggled in the first half at just 9-of-33 (27.2 percent), but answered with 16-of-27 (59.2 percent) in the second half.
Patrice Butler led the Eagles with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while her sister, Sierra Butler, added 13 points and 14 rebounds. Troy held Angle McGowan, who entered averaging 15.5 points per game, to 2-of-13 shooting and six points, but she did have a game-high seven assists.
Troy forced the Eagles into 21 turnovers and committed 16 itself, outscoring the Eagles in points off turnovers, 23-13. Troy also outscored Georgia Southern in fastbreak points, 19-8, but that advantage was 15-2 entering the fourth quarter as Troy scored well in transition.
The Trojans assisted on a season-high 74 percent of its baskets, posting 23 assists on 31 made field goals.
Troy now turns its attention to Georgia State who visits on Saturday for the Trojans' annual Play 4Kay game. Troy will wear pink uniforms and donations will be taking at the door for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The Panthers come to Troy after an 83-45 loss at South Alabama on Thursday night. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
Ashley Beverly Kelley - Troy University Sports Hall of Fame
Monday, April 28
Underdogs Untold: Title Ticket Punched
Friday, April 04
Chanda Rigby WNIT Championship Press Conference
Friday, April 04
Chanda Rigby Postgame Press Conference - Illinois State
Thursday, April 03