Trojans Look to Rebound at UL Lafayette

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana – The Troy women's basketball team will look to pick up its first Sun Belt win when it travels to take on UL Lafayette on Saturday at the Cajundome at 5 p.m.

Live audio and live video will be available for Trojan All-Access subscribers at TroyTrojans.com. A link to live stats can be found on the women's basketball schedule page at TroyTrojans.com. Fans in Troy can also hear the game on WTBF 94.7 FM. To follow the action on Twitter, follow @TroyWomensBBall.

Troy (5-5, 0-1) is coming off of a 74-72 loss to Texas State at home on Tuesday. The Trojans trailed nearly the entire game, but never by more than eight points.

The Trojans went on a 9-3 run to get within one, 71-70, with 41 seconds to go. However, Troy never could take the lead, despite having the ball three times, within one possession, in the final 30 seconds. In those three possessions, the Trojans had a turnover, then a missed 3-pointer, and made two of three free throws while down by three with 3.8 seconds remaining.

Ashley Beverly-Kelley led the Trojans with 32 points, including four 3-pointers, falling just one point shy of tying a career high. Beverly-Kelley is now leading the Trojans in scoring (15.1 ppg), assists (3.4 apg) and steals (2.3 spg).

Ronita Garrett has posted seven double-doubles for the Trojans and is averaging a double-double on the with 14.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Her seven double-doubles are tied for first in the Sun Belt and 14th in the NCAA.

Troy ranks third in the Sun Belt in scoring at 73.1 points per game. Now in Chanda Rigby's third season, the Trojans led the league in scoring in each of the first two. However, this season Troy ranks eighth in the league in field goal percentage (38.3) and ninth in 3-point percentage (27.3), but it averages 73.6 field goal attempts per game, 11 more than any other Sun Belt team.

Defensively, the Trojans are forcing 23.1 opponent turnovers and picking up 11.9 steals per game, both tops in the Sun Belt. Those numbers rank 14th and 23rd in the NCAA, respectively.

UL Lafayette (8-2, 0-1) had the best non-conference record in the Sun Belt at 8-1, but lost its Sun Belt opener at UALR, 67-41, on Tuesday. The Ragin' Cajuns shot just 25 percent in the game while UALR shot 51 percent. Jaylyn Gordon and Kia Wilridge led the Cajuns with 14 points each.

Gordon (15.0 ppg), Wilridge (13.0 ppg) and Keke Veal (11.6 ppg) all average double-figure scoring for the Cajuns who average 61.7 points per game as a team. Like Troy, the Cajuns feature a pressure defense that forces a lot of opponent turnovers. The Cajuns lead the Sun Belt in turnover margin at +5.7 and force 21.1 opponent turnovers per game while giving up just 56.7 points per game.

The all-time series between Troy and UL Lafayette is tied 7-7. Home teams have dominated the series as Troy is 1-6 in Lafayette, but 6-1 at home. The two sides split last season's meetings with each home team winning.

For more information on Troy Athletics, visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube by searching for Troy Athletics.

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Players Mentioned

Ashley Beverly Kelley

Ronita Garrett

Troy University Athletics

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ashley Beverly Kelley

Ronita Garrett

Trojans Look to Rebound at UL Lafayette

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