Samford in second TAAC game

By STEVEN G. WATSON

Sports Editor

Going into Monday night’s contest with the Samford Lady Bulldogs the Lady Trojans knew they had their work cut out for them. Not only because of Samford’s talent, but because they were outnumbered almost two-to-one.

The Lady Trojans lost the Trans America Athletic Conference contest 82-69 with their numbers depleted by two after the Jacksonville State win Saturday. Forward Jennifer Ehlers and guard Rebekah Waters fell to the injury and with Keisha Ellis out since the first of the season it left TSU with only eight players to go around.

The Lady Bulldogs brought 14 healthy players Monday and looked to wear TSU out with shear numbers from the beginning. Troy State didn’t back down, however playing their normal style of ball pushing it up the court on offense and pressing when possible on defense.

"If we had slowed it down we would have played worse than we did," Troy State head coach Jerry Hester said. "We don’t play slow down so there’s no use in trying to come in here and invent some way to play. We platy up-speed and that’s the way we’re going to play and the eight players had nothing to do with it."

The Lady Bulldogs came out on fire from behind the 3-point arch hitting 5-of-8 from long range while countering down low with 6-foot-4 center Jodi Morris.

Samford was able to jump out to as much as a 13-point lead with 6:29 left, but the Lady Trojans were able to stay in the game hitting four 3-pointers in the closing minutes of the half that closed with Samford up 47-39.

Troy State cut it to a five-point lead early in the second, but couldn’t ever get any closer. Morris put the nail in the coffin after the Lady Bulldogs ran every second off the shot clock, hitting a off-balanced jumper in the lane with under five minutes left.

"She was a division I-A transfer from Auburn and had some shots that had some really nice rolls," Hester said of Morris. "They had a very nice game and they’re to be commended. Personally I picked them second in the conference. They’ve had these kids since they were freshmen and they really have a nice team."

Abby Boone kept the Lady Trojans in the game for the most part, hitting trey after trey and finishing 6-of-12 from behind the arch. She led TSU with 24 points while Tomekia Golattte finished with 17 and Sharin Milner notched 10 assists, but no points. Morris led all scorers with 25 for the Lady Bulldogs while Clarissa Tomlinson came in with some great shooting to hit for 17.

In action Saturday, Tomekia Golatte hit a layup with only 15 seconds to go and then nailed one-of-two free throws to lift TSU to their first conference win 74-71 over Jacksonville State.

The Lady Trojans only shot 32 percent from the floor, but managed to hold the lead throughout most of the game. JSU mounted a late surge to make it close, but TSU managed to hold them off.

Sophomore center Sarah Degrandi led the Lady Trojans notching her first career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Golatte hit for 15 points.

TSU will see action next as they host Minnesota on Sunday, Dec. 12 at 1 p.m.