CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. –

Despite another career night

from sophomore Donette

McNair, the Troy Trojans fell

to Akron 58-52 in the consolation

game of the Doubletree

Classic, hosted by the

University of Tennessee at

Chattanooga.

McNair continued her

exceptional play from the low

post, recording her fourth consecutive

double-double in the

contest. The sophomore scored

a career-high 22 points and

added 11 rebounds. Kylie

Morrissy added 12 in the loss.

Senior Larelle Roper recorded

a season-high six assists and

seven rebounds for the

Trojans.

The performance by McNair

earned her the first All-

Tournament Award of her collegiate

career.

Meanwhile, Akron was led

by Kara Murphy, another alltournament

selection, with 21

points and 10 rebounds.

With 2:27 remaining in the

contest, the Trojans found

themselves down by just one

point at 51-50 and a chance to

take the lead. Troy came up

empty on their possession

after missing a lay-up, but

Akron converted their opportunity

when Kara Murphy hit

a twisting lay-up in the paint

with 1:58 remaining. The basket

by Murphy put the Lady

Zips up 53-50.

McNair gave the Trojans a

chance late in the contest when

she ripped down an offensive

rebound and was fouled. The

sophomore converted on 1-of-

2 free throws with 1:32

remaining, trimming the deficit

to 53-51. Akron pushed the

lead to 56-51 when Ashley

Veal knocked down a 3-pointer from the left win. From that

point, the Lady Zips were able

to convert free throws for the

final margin.

The Trojans battled back

from a 20-point deficit early in

the second half to force the

tight contest at the end. Down

41-21 with 15:53 to play, the

Trojans went on a 27-8 run

over the next 11:11 to pull

within a single point at 49-48.

During the run, McNair

scored 10 points; while Kirsten

Smith and Sarah McAppion

came off the bench to help

ignite the run. Smith scored

five points and McAppion four

consecutive points off the

bench. Morrissy scored eight

of 12 points in the contest during

the run.

Troy continued to battle,

although unable to take the

lead in the second half, keeping

the game at a single point

until the 3-pointer by Veal with

1:14 to play in the contest.

Troy shot 31.5 (17-of-54)

percent from the floor, 18.2

(2-of-11) percent from beyond

the arc and 69.6 (16-of-23)

percent from the free throw

line. They forced Akron into

21 turnovers, while also recording

nine steals. Akron shot

40.4 (19-of-47) percent from

the floor, 39.1 (9-of-23) percent

from beyond the arc and

just 45.8 (11-of-24) percent from the free throw line.