Troy University Athletics
Saturday, February 27
Troy, Ala.
2 p.m.
Troy University
15-12, 10-8
74
vs
64
ULM
10-17, 4-14
1
2
3
4
F
ULM
17
7
22
18
64
Troy
11
21
22
20
74
Team Stats
ULM
TROY
FG%
.481
.319
3FG%
.154
.300
FT%
.625
.826
RB
36
45
TO
23
17
STL
12
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
27
FGM
9
3FGM
5
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Basketball (W)
G
/ Basketball (W)
F
/ Basketball (W)
F
/ Basketball (W)G
/ Basketball (W)Photo by: Chris Davis
Troy Women Grind Out Win on Ashley Beverly Kelley’s Senior Day
2/27/2016 5:15:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Alabama – It was Ashley Beverly Kelley's final game at Trojan Arena, and the Troy women's basketball team didn't shoot well, but it found a way to beat ULM, 74-64, on Saturday afternoon.
Beverly Kelley, a Mid-Major All-American and the Sun Belt's leading scorer this season, dropped 27 points in her home finale on 9-of-20 shooting, including 5-of-10 from deep. It was the 40th 20-point game of her career, but the rest of the Trojans struggled from the field as Troy overcame a 32 percent shooting effort to win for the firth time in its last six games.
Troy (15-12, 10-8) applied pressure to ULM most of the day and forced the Warhawks into 23 turnovers while outscoring them in points off turnovers, 18-7. Troy also dominated on the glass, outrebounding ULM, 45-36. Troy grabbed 22 offensive rebounds to take a 21-6 advantage in second-chance points.
"We're thrilled to get this win," Troy head coach Chanda Rigby said. "We didn't shoot as well as we would like, but I think because we caused so many turnovers and rebounded so well, we were able to come away with the win."
ArJae' Saunders and Claresa Banks joined Beverly Kelley in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively, as they each hit a pair of free throws late to ice the win.
Troy led by as many as 13 points down the stretch, but ULM led by 11 early in the first quarter as Troy started out ice cold. The Trojans shot just 3-of-18 in the first quarter, and at one time trailed, 15-4, before closing on a 7-2 run to get within 17-11 after the first 10 minutes.
Beverly Kelley scored 10 of her points in the second quarter to get Troy back in it, but a wild sequence to end the half really gave Troy the momentum.
Caitlyn Ramirez, who had 14 rebounds on the night, got an offensive rebound and a putback at the second-quarter buzzer. The junior was fouled on the play, and the officials added 1.1 seconds to the clock. Ramirez missed the free throw, but Kristen Emerson, who had eight rebounds, corralled the miss and also hit at the buzzer to give Troy a 32-24 lead the break.
ULM (10-17, 4-14) shot 53 percent (17-of-32) in the second half, but a lot of those makes were behind a Troy press that was effective and gave Troy transition opportunities. Troy hit 14-of-16 free throws in the second half to stay ahead the entire way.
The Warhawks got as close as six points, 63-57, with 2:35 to go in the game, but Beverly Kelley responded with a 3-pointer and a layup on back-to-back possession to put Troy up, 68-59, with 1:00 to go. Troy made all six of its free throws in the final minute to grab the win.
Alayshia Hunter scored 30 points for ULM to lead all in the game. She hit 14-of-17 from the field, mostly behind the Troy press, and also grabbed 10 rebounds. Troy did force the senior into seven turnovers. Daja Chase had 17 points for the Warhawks, but also had six turnovers.
Troy took nearly 20 more shots than ULM, hitting 23-of-72 while ULM made 26-of-54. The Trojans were much better beyond the arc where they hit 9-of-30, compared to ULM's 2-of-13 effort. The Trojans were also great the free throw line where they hit 19-of-23 on the night.
The win kept Troy tied with South Alabama for fourth place in the Sun Belt standings. The Jaguars beat UL Lafayette, dropping the Ragin' Cajuns down to with a game of Troy and South Alabama.
The Trojans now close their regular season with a pair of road games in Texas, starting with a Thursday night contest at Texas State and finishing on Saturday at UT Arlington. Troy beat both teams at Trojan Arena earlier this season.
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