Trojans Close Road Stretch at Appalachian State

BOONE, North Carolina – The Troy women's basketball team will close its three-game road stretch on Saturday when it visits the Holmes Center to take on Appalachian State at 12 p.m. CST.

Free, live audio will be available at TroyTrojans.com. Links to live stats and live video can be accessed through 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 (12-9, 7-5) is coming off of a 91-72 loss at Arkansas State on Thursday. Troy shot just 28 percent in the first half as Arkansas State built a big lead and maintained it with a 51 percent shooting effort in the game.

After starting January on a six-game winning streak, the Trojans have now lost four of five. Troy, however, still sits in fourth place in the Sun Belt. With eight Sun Belt games still the play, Troy is just three wins away from tying the program record of 10 Sun Belt wins (2008-09).

Troy's pressure defense has made headlines lately, forcing 86 turnovers in the last three games (39 vs ULM, 31 at UTA). Troy is forcing an average of 22.7 turnovers per game and grabbing 11.8 steals per game, marks that both lead the Sun Belt and rank seventh in the NCAA.

Ashley Beverly-Kelley led the Trojans with 26 points at Arkansas State, her third straight game of 20-plus points. The junior ranks third in the Sun Belt in scoring (15.9), ninth in assists (2.7) and second in steals (2.6), making her the only Sun Belt player in the top 10 of all three categories.

Ronita Garrett ranks right behind her as she sits sixth in the league with a 14.9 per game scoring average. Garrett leads the Sun Belt in rebounding at 10.8 boards per game and also leads the league with 15 double-doubles, a mark that ranks seventh in the NCAA. Garrett has posted a double-double in five straight games.

Troy has scored 75-plus points in six of its last nine games, upping its scoring average to a Sun Belt best 75.0 points per game. Now in her third season, Chanda Rigby and the Trojans led the league in scoring in each of the first two seasons as well.

Appalachian State (10-10, 5-6) lost on Thursday at UL Lafayette, 70-66, but led nearly the entire game. The Mountaineers played without Preseason All-Sun Belt selection Maryah Sydnor for the second straight game. Sydnor ranks second in the league in scoring at 18.1 points per game.

The Mountaineers have played one of the tougher Sun Belt schedules thus far as seven of their 11 games have come on the road. App State is 7-2 at the Holmes Center this season, including a 3-1 mark in league play.

Troy won this season's earlier contest, 91-87, at Trojan Arena. Beverly-Kelley scored a career-high 34 points for Troy while Sydnor had 31 points for App State. Troy forced the Mountaineers into 28 turnovers in the fast-paced game. That game marked the first in the series history between Troy and App State.

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

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Players Mentioned

Ashley Beverly Kelley

Ronita Garrett