STATESBORO, Ga. - Despite junior Alexis Brown's career-high 34 points, Sun Belt Conference first-place Troy outlasted host Georgia Southern, 97-81, in a women's basketball offensive showcase on Thursday evening at Hanner Fieldhouse.
The Trojans (14-2, 5-0 SBC) remained atop the league and extended their current win streak to eight, while Georgia Southern (5-11, 0-5 SBC) saw its current slide reach six with the loss.
The first quarter was all even at 23-all as Georgia Southern shot 57% from the floor and downed six three-pointers. The Trojans took a four-point lead into the break, 51-47, and the Eagles were able to stay close thanks to the play of junior Alexis Brown, who had 20 points in the first half.
The Trojans opened the third quarter on an 8-2 run and stretched that lead out to double digits early in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win.
Brown notched her first career double-double with her 34 points and 10 rebounds, while Tatum Barber also notched a career high with 20 points. Amira Atwater added 12 points and eight assists. Harriet Winchester led Troy with 21 points.
Eagle of the Game
Brown hit 12-of-19 shots from the floor and tied a Georgia Southern school record by knocking down eight three-pointers en route to her career-high scoring output. She is the first GS player to notch 30+ points since Anna Claire Knight had 31 at Davidson on Feb. 14, 2014, and she is the first Eagle to have 20 points in a half since teammate Nakol Franks had 21 points in the first half against Mercer on Nov. 29, 2016.
Key moment
Troy led by eight, 72-64, at the end of the third quarter. Alexis Brown scored the first bucket of the period, but the Trojans went on a 13-6 run over the next five minutes to build a 15-point lead and take the win.
Stat of the Game
The Eagles were 12-of-20 from three-point range (60%), one shy of the school record for most three-pointers made in a game. Brown's eight threes are now tied with Nakol Franks (2016), Lacie Dowling (2013) and Alie Rousseau (2000) for the school record.
QUOTABLES
Head coach Kip Drown about the hot start to the contest
"I didn't think we showed any fear, we came at them. Amira Atwater did a great job of attacking. Early on, they were rotating and she was finding people. AB [Alexis Brown] and Tatum came out shooting the basketball well. The adjustment they made was that they quit coming off of AB and Tatum. It was going to be Amira taking the ball to the rim as much as she could. But you got to tip your hat to them, they rebound as hard as anyone I've coached against.. [Kayla] Robinson really hurt us, she hit three or four pull-up jumpers. She's a good player and we had some difficulty with her in the second half."
On Alexis Brown's game
"We've been wanting her to look for the 3 more. We know she's a great penetrator, and she gets to the line. But she got great looks from three, and just got into a good rhythm. I think it's nothing but a positive for us moving forward. When people have to come out and guard her, it opens up the drive."
Next up
The Eagles return to action on Saturday, hosting South Alabama in a 2 p.m. Sun Belt Conference matchup at Hanner Fieldhouse.
