Troy Looks to Stop Skid on Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night

TROY, Alabama – The Troy women's basketball team will look to snap a three-game losing skid when Appalachian State visits Trojan Arena on Thursday for a 5:15 p.m. contest. All three losses have been by four points or less.

The first 500 fans at the game will receive a Troy foam finger. Also, Troy University faculty and staff can show their university ID at the door and receive $5 general admission tickets.

The game is part of a doubleheader as the Troy men will host Appalachian State at 7:30 p.m. At halftime of the men's game, Troy Athletics will honor 243 student-athletes at halftime of the game for their inclusion in the 3.0/3.5 Club.

The Troy women (10-8, 5-4) have lost the first three of a stretch that includes four games in eight days, marking the first three-game losing streak for Troy in more than two calendar years.

The Trojans most recently fell to South Alabama, 75-71, at home on Tuesday night. Troy shot just 32 percent overall and 19 percent from deep, its second worst shooting effort of the season. However, despite South Alabama making 18-of-20 from the field in the second half, the game was close throughout because Troy forced the Jaguars into 32 turnovers.

Troy forces teams into an average of 23.7 turnovers per game, the fifth best mark in the NCAA. All but one opponent has committed at least 17 turnovers this season, and South Alabama was the fifth to cough it up 30 or more times.

Despite scoring below their average in each of the last three games, the Trojans are still scoring 83.6 points per game to lead the Sun Belt and rank fifth in the NCAA. Tuesday's loss dropped Troy's scoring average at Trojan Arena to 94.4 points per game in eight contests.

ArJae' Saunders led the Trojans against South Alabama with 15 points, including a 7-of-8 showing at the free throw line. Saunders is averaging 13.0 points in her last five games, scoring in double figures in four of the five.

Ashley Beverly Kelley scored 11 on Tuesday, but still leads the Sun Belt in scoring at 18.9 points per game. She also leads the league with an 85.5 free throw percentage, ranks second with 2.8 steals per game and fourth with 3.8 assists per game.

Appalachian State (5-12, 2-6) comes to Troy having lost four straight games, including a 65-50 home set back against Georgia Southern on Monday, a game in which App State shot just 29 percent.

Madi Story led App State with 16 points against the Eagles. The sophomore is averaging 17.0 per game in her last five games, dating back to a 31-point performance against Texas State in App State's last win. Story leads the Mountaineers on the season at 11.1 points per game, just ahead of Joi Jones at 10.1 per game.

Like Troy, the Mountaineers want to run the floor, and that has led to an entertaining series. Troy swept last season's meetings, winning 91-87 at home and 108-87 on the road. Those were the first two meetings in a series that Troy leads, 2-0.

Following Thursday's game, Troy has a bit of rest, taking Saturday off before next week's road trip to Arkansas. The Trojans will next play on next Thursday at Little Rock.

For more information on Troy women's basketball, follow the Trojans on Twitter and Instagram at @TroyTrojansWBB.

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

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Players Mentioned

Ashley Beverly Kelley

ArJae' Saunders