Lil' Bit of Everything

Wednesday, February 16, 2011 8:45 PM
Travis Jarome (email)

It is hard to believe that the basketball season is about to come to a close in a matter of days. The Trojans play their final two home games of the season this week at Sartain Hall, taking on Middle Tennessee on Thursday and Arkansas State on Saturday.

Thursday night is WBCA Pink Zone night and is a time to spread awareness of breast cancer and help raise funds for research. Then, on Saturday, the Trojans will say goodbye to one of their all-time greats in Donette McNair as she plays her final home game of her career.

This season, I have had the pleasure of watching another member of the Trojans' squad join the 1,000-point club - the fourth time in four years I have had that honor. I have seen the school's Division I rebounding record fall, courtesy of McNair. And I have also seen the Trojans hold two different opponents to 13 or fewer points in the first half at home, setting school records.

With all that said, this weekend poses a different challenge as I have my two main sports going at the same time at home - and of course, on Saturday they play at the same time.

The Troy softball team opens up their home portion of the schedule as they host the Quality Inn Classic beginning with the first game at 1:30 pm on Friday afternoon and running through early Sunday evening. The Trojans enter the tournament with a record of 3-2 overall, with their two losses to 41st-ranked Auburn and third-ranked Alabama at the Easton/Hibbett All-Alabama Classic last weekend.

Speaking of last weekend, the Trojans racked up eight homeruns in five games and recorded two shutouts on the weekend. I witnessed yet another record fall as Ashlyn Williams recorded her 18th career shutout, defeating UAB. I also saw three back-to-back home runs hit by the Trojans - twice in one game.

It has been a whirlwind the last two weeks, but if you want to see women's college athletics at its best, there is no time like the present as it all starts on Thursday night with the basketball game, continues with softball on Friday, both on Saturday and softball on Sunday.

For more information, make sure to visit TroyTrojans.com for all of the updated schedules.