Women's Basketball Comeback Efforts Fall Short in Loss at Duke

Sunday, November 24

Durham, N.C.

1 p.m.

Troy University

3-2,0-0Sun Belt

Duke

4-2,0-0ACC

Troy

Duke

Women's Basketball Comeback Efforts Fall Short in Loss at Duke

11/24/2019 4:05:00 PM | Basketball (W)

Box Score

By: Troy Athletics Communications

DURHAM, N.C. – After a slow start in Durham Troy never quit, battling all the way back to put a scare into the Blue Devils late in the game and proving that they can play with anybody in the country.

Troy got off to a slow start, falling behind 14-1 within the first five minutes but that didn't deter the Trojans. After Troy got acclimated to the unique surroundings of Cameron Indoor Stadium they began to play their game. Tiyah Johnson stepped up in a big way late in the quarter with two three-pointers to help the Trojans chip away at the deficit, ending the quarter on a 13-6 run and trailing by just 14.

With momentum on their side Troy opened the second-quarter on a 9-3 run to make the score 26-34. Troy's fast paced style of play began causing Duke all sorts of fits and the only way the Blue Devils were able to slow down the Trojans was by getting to the free throw line where they shot 21 first half free throws, 13 more than Troy. After weathering a late 9-2 Duke run Troy closed out the half on a 10-2 run of their own, highlighted by seven points from Japoinca James, to go into the locker room trailing, 40-48.

After Duke scored the first five points of the third quarter Troy put their foot on the gas and scored 11 of the next 13 points to trim the deficit to 51-55. Duke quickly answered with seven straight points from Miela Goodchild to push their lead back to 11 before closing out the quarter leading, 66-56.

In the final frame neither team was giving an inch, as both teams traded points for the first six minutes of the quarter, which slowed Troy's comeback efforts. As the game neared its end, Duke went on a 7-2 run to extend their lead to 17 and spoil Troy's comeback attempt. Troy fell in the contest, 82-96.

Records
Troy: 3-2
Duke: 4-2

Trojan Spotlight
Coming off the bench Tiyah Johnson provided Troy a spark when Troy needed it most. Trailing 14-1 to open the game it was Johnson who drilled a triple from the wing on a great pass from Kayla Robinson for Troy's first bucket of the game. Johnson's early triple helped settle down the Trojans and allowed them to begin to chip away at the deficit. Johnson ended the game with 13-points on 5-of-10 shooting with two rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Quoting Coach Rigby
On the slow start but coming back in the game
"I am thankful they are fighters. That is the kind of players we recruit, kind of the scrappy underdog type fighter. I am proud that they didn't quit because it looked really bleak there at the beginning. We'd like to get to the point where we can turn the corner and win a game like that."

Trojan Notables
• Troy made at least 10 3-pointers in a game for the first time this season. The loss snaps an 11-game winning streak in games where they made at least 10 three's
• Jasmine Robinson led the Trojans in scoring with a career-high 25-points
• Four Trojans reached double-digit points: Jasmine Robinson (25), Japonica James (17), Tiyah Johnson (13) and Amber Rivers (11)
• Duke outrebounded Troy 41-49. This marks the first time since Jan. 5, 2019 that Troy has been outrebounded in a game

Up Next
Troy will be back on the road once again to start the month of December. The Trojans will travel to Daytona Beach, Fla. for a Dec. 1 match-up against Bethune-Cookman. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. (CT).

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