UL Can't Recover From Troy's Quick Start

TROY, Ala. ? Donette McNair and Kylie Morrissy combined to score the first 15 points for Troy which helped lift the Trojans to a 69-47 victory over a shorthanded Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns squad here Saturday evening at Trojan Arena.

The Ragin' Cajuns (3-13, 0-5 Sun Belt) were without the services of leading scorer Alexis Green who was attending a family funeral. Green averages 13.9 points per game and is Louisiana's top overall field goal and three-point field goal leader.

UL was led in scoring by Mercedes Johnson who scored 13 points. She also tallied a team-best six rebounds. Krystal Motley posted 10 points and made a team-best two 3-pointers.

Morrissy led Troy and all scorers with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting. McNair added 12 points and five rebounds.

The Ragin' Cajuns dropped their third straight game overall and remain winless in the New Year. Troy (8-7, 3-2 Sun Belt) collected its second straight win in the series (both times at Trojan Arena.) The two teams will have a rematch at Earl K. Long Gym on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

McNair scored the Trojans' first eight points which helped the hosts grab an 8-4 lead by the 17:15 mark of the opening stanza.

Morrissy knocked down her first three-point attempt of the contest at 16:30 to push the lead to 11-4. After a Cajuns turnover Morrissy hit a baseline jumper at 15:57 to extend the lead to 13-4.

The Cajuns ended a seven-point Troy run after the 15-minute media timeout. Johnson converted an inside basket at 14:53 for UL's first basket since 17:26 that made it 13-6.

Morrissy answered Johnson's basket with one on the other end at 14:39 which kicked off a string of eight straight unanswered points for the Trojans. After the run Troy held a 21-6 lead.

Nicole Morris intercepted a pass at the free throw line and drove up the floor where she drew a foul on a layup attempt. She made one of two free throws to snap the Trojans' run. After another defensive stop, Motley connected on a trey attempt at 9:49 to slice the deficit to 21-10.

Troy responded quickly. Brittnie Davis hit a three-pointer at 9:32 and after a missed jumper by Jasmine Barnes, Morrissy fed the ball to Alyce Shearing in the paint for a layup at 9:03 which upped the lead to 26-10.

Troy's lead reached 20 points after a triple by Kirsten Smith at the 7:18 mark made it 30-10. Louisiana got back under 20 when Jessica Sigue grabbed an offensive rebound and made the putback at 6:30.

The Trojans scored on their next two trips up the court and quickly sent the margin back over 20 points (34-12). Troy went on to add four more points to the run and the lead grew to 38-12 by the 3:56 mark.

The teams swapped baskets the next two minutes with UL outscoring Troy 5-4. Morrissy made a trey with 29 seconds left in the half to give Troy its largest lead at the time at 45-17. She then hit a buzzer-beating triple to stretch the margin to 31 going into the locker room.

The Trojans shot an opponent season-high 69 percent in the first 20 minutes going 20-of-29 from the floor. Louisiana was held to 28 percent shooting (7-of-25). Morrissy and McNair combined for 29 of Troy's 48 first-half point total.

The Ragin' Cajuns defense pressured Troy heavier at the start of the second half and held the Trojans to only four points and 3-of-11 shooting through the first five minutes.

The Cajuns used a 6-0 run to drop the Trojans' lead below 30 points. It began with two free throws from Johnson at 16:00 and then a free throw apiece from D'Mya Clay on two separate trips and the deficit was 54-24. Barnes collected a steal and raced in for a layup at 14:36 to make it 54-26.

Danielle Realph stopped the UL run with a basket at 14:19. After a free throw by Morrissy with 12:57 left to play the lead was 57-27 and the Cajuns couldn't drop the deficit below 30 until five minutes remained. Louisiana did limit the Trojans to only one field goal attempt from the 11:52 mark until 7:33 was on the clock.

Trailing 64-30, Louisiana rattled off eight straight points. Barnes started it with a cutting layup at 5:06 as she was fouled. She completed the three-point play with a free throw. On the first possession under five minutes, it was Motley burying a three-pointer on the right wing that dropped the deficit below 30 points, 64-36. The run was capped off with a layup by Barnes off an assist from Lyndra Bell at the 4:06 mark.

The Cajuns ended the game outscoring the Trojans 17-5 in the final 5:14.

Louisiana's next outing will be held at Earl K. Long Gym on Wednesday, Jan. 14 against Sun Belt West Division leader UALR. The Cajuns and Trojans will tip at 7 p.m. It's lone game of the week as Saturday, Jan. 17 is Louisiana's day off in Sun Belt play.

-www.RaginCajuns.com-

UL Can't Recover From Troy's Quick Start

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UL Can't Recover From Troy's Quick Start

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