Williams' 24 can't save Troy from Cougs

A tall, quick, aggressive Stillwater Christian team took its toll on Troy’s girls basketball team, breaking the game open and winning 49-34.

Senior forward Jordan Williams set the tone for the season by scoring 24 points.

Until three seconds left in the first half, when junior guard Kellie Lundin sank a 3-pointer, Williams had scored every point for the Lady Trojans. 

Even so, Stillwater clogged the middle, ran a full-court press and generally befuddled Troy.

“Every shot of theirs seemed to go in,” said first-year Head Coach Kara Sevalstad. 

Sevalstad made a switch in the third quarter and broke the press. Stillwater didn’t bring it back in the fourth. 

By then, the damage was done. Stillwater led by as many as 18 points at times, as Troy struggled to connect.

Seniors Morgan Paolini and Jordan Danz had 16 and 17 points for the Cougars, and standing at 6-feet tall, were also an imposing presence on defense.

Danz especially hounded the point guard and forced several turnovers just past half-court.

Williams kept the Lady Trojans kicking, hitting five 3-pointers.

“During warm-ups it was rough,” she said. “I wasn’t making anything. I was concerned.”

The clunkers before the game made way to some beautiful shooting, something Troy’s offense is designed around. Spread out the defense, feign drives to the key and kick it to Williams on the perimeter.

It might have worked on a less-savvy, less-accurate team. The weight on Williams’ shoulders is nothing new.

“She’s used to [the pressure],” Sevalstad said. “We just need to keep shooting.”

If anything, the humble Williams needs to be more selfish. 

She hesitated to pull the trigger at times, which the quick Cougars adapted to.

Lundin added eight points and senior guard Alanah True-Silva tacked on two.

“We need to work on boxing out and turnovers,” Williams said. “Turnovers hurt us.”

Troy heads to Plains 4:30 p.m. Friday.