Trojans Run Away with Second Straight Win

Wednesday, January 22

Arlington, Texas

7:30 p.m.

Troy University

6-12 (2-5)

UT Arlington

1-16 (0-6)

Troy

UT Arlington

Photo by: Chris Davis

1/22/2014 10:15:00 PM | Basketball (W)

Box Score

By: Matt Mays

Box Score

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Troy women's basketball team won its second straight game with an 85-62 win at UT Arlington on Wednesday. Troy held the new Sun Belt member to 17 percent shooting in the first half and cruised down the stretch at the College Park Center.

Troy (6-12, 2-5) was led by Joanna Harden's 32 points, including 23 in the first half as Troy built an early lead. Ashley Beverly-Kelley chipped in 16 points with four steals as Troy forced 21 Maverick turnovers.

Just like in last weekend's win over UL Lafayette, Troy's first-half defense was smothering, holding UT Arlington to 6-of-36 from the floor in the first half. The Mavericks missed 22 straight field goals over a 13-minute span as the Trojans built their lead to as many as 19 in the opening frame.

UT Arlington's strength entering the game was a pair of strong post players in Briana Walker and Desherra Nwanguma, but the Trojans held the pair to a combined nine points and 3-of-14 shooting in the first half.

Nwanguma responded in the second half and finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as Troy held UT Arlington to 29 percent (20-of-70) shooting on the night and ran away at the end with the 23-point win.

UT Arlington (1-16, 0-6) point guard Laila Suleiman had 11 points, but also committed eight turnovers as Troy pressured her all night. Troy committed just nine turnovers as a team, its lowest total of the season.

The Trojans were outrebounded 58-41 on the night, but still outscored the Mavericks in the paint, 44-24. Troy's post players battled on the block on both ends of the floor, especially Brianna Lancaster early as she scored eight points and posted two blocks to squash a fast start by UTA.

The Mavericks scored the first seven points and later led 15-8 when their cold spell hit. A Lancaster layup, Ronita Garrett 3-pionter and Beverly-Kelley 3-pointer (on three consecutive possessions) gave Troy a 16-15 lead they would never relinquish.

The Trojans will look for a third straight win on Saturday when they travel to take on Texas State at Strahan Coliseum. The Bobcats lost at UALR on Wednesday.

For more information on Troy Athletics, visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter and Instagram at @TroyAthletics and on Facebook at Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.