TROY, Ala. – When UWF women's basketball head coach
Stephanie Lawrence Yelton scheduled an exhibition game with Troy, she knew the Trojans' pressing, trapping defense and relentless work on the glass would be a solid test for the Argonauts.
UWF was led by seniors
Toni Brewer and
Halee Nieman as the Argos fell to Troy, 88-71, at Trojan Arena Thursday. Brewer, who has 36 career double-doubles, finished with a game-high 33 points and 11 rebounds, while Nieman had 16 points, nine boards and a blocked shot. Classmate
Belle Bistrow was also in double figures with 10 points
The Argonauts shot 37 percent in the game and were 19-for-22 from the free throw line. UWF also had 49 rebounds and 15 offensive boards that led to 22 second chance points.
"This was a good game for us because we are going to see teams that play like Troy early in our schedule," Lawrence Yelton said. "They are a more athletic team, rebound extremely well and pressures you defensively for 40 minutes.
"To be challenged that much is a growing process. We rotated some of the young kids early and they were forced to grow up against a good team like Troy."
After Bistrow opened the game with the first of her two 3-pointers, the Trojans used a 13-2 run, scoring all 13 points off seven turnovers.
UWF battled back and used an 8-0 run midway through the second quarter to grab a 33-32 lead. Troy answered with a run of its own, closing the half on a 14-2 run for a 46-35 advantage.
Troy came out in the second half and controlled the glass with 19 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second-chance points. The Trojans, who led Division I with 21 offensive boards and 49 total rebounds per game a year ago, finished with 22 and 51 on Thursday.
The Trojans extended their lead to 14 early in the third and led by as many as 21 late in the fourth.
Troy shot 40 percent and was led in scoring by Sky'Lynn Holmes' 14 points.
UWF will open the 2018-19 season against Albany State next Friday, Nov. 9 in Valdosta, Ga. Tip-off at The Complex is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
