Troy women’s hoops out to prove doubters wrong

TROY — Even after a fourth-place finish in the Sun Belt last year, Troy finds itself picked at the bottom of the league this year.

The Trojans were picked last in the Sun Belt East, though they went 16-14, 10-8 in league play. Troy lost leading scorer Kylie Morrissy and point guard Larelle Roper from last year’s team.

“It’s been that way since I’ve been here,” senior guard Brittnie Davis said. “Last year we proved them wrong, so I just think we’re going to do it again. I feel like we’re going to end the season pretty good.”

Troy returns four players who have started games, including junior forward Donnette McNair, who was second on the team last year at 10.5 points per game and led the team in rebounding at 7.3 per game.

Davis scored seven points per game, senior center Alyce Shearing scored nine per game and sophomore guard Mookie Smith, who is primed for a much bigger role this year, scored 5.6 per game.

Head coach Michael Murphy points to last season as a case of preseason picks gone wrong. Troy was picked fifth in the East after losing Amy Lewis, one of the top scorers in program history.

“We just weren’t a one-man show,” Murphy said. “A lot of people are looking at us and assuming that because we lost a 1,500-point scorer that we’re going to fall off the cliff. Last year was the same thing. We lost Amy Lewis, another 1,500-point scorer, and ended up having our best year ever in the Sun Belt.”

Shearing, Smith, Davis and McNair are likely starters. The fifth spot and point guard position will likely go to 5-foot-8 freshman Sophie Kleeman, another player from a long line of Australians that Troy has brought in over the years.

“Right now, she’s got the inside track on it,” Murphy said. “She’s a bright kid and has played a lot of competitive basketball back home in Australia.”

Murphy said he expects Morrissy’s offensive production (16.9 ppg) to be replaced by committee, which means the four returning starters are going to have to step up their scoring averages.

On the bench, Murphy is counting on sophomore Sarah McAppion for outside shooting and a pair of freshmen — center Cortney Hawkins and wing player Jamesha Blake — for production.

He feels like his team has the pieces to make something happen this year. Troy opens the season Nov. 13 at Auburn.

“As long as we don’t have injuries or illness, which we can’t control, I feel pretty confident we can make a good run,” Murphy said.