Troy Welcomes Georgia Southern to Trojan Arena

TROY, Alabama – After playing well, but dropping two games on the Sun Belt's toughest road trip last week, the Troy women's basketball team returns home on Thursday to host Georgia Southern. The Trojans and Eagles are set to tip off at 5:15 p.m. at Trojan Arena.

The first 500 fans at the game will receive a free Troy drink koozie. It's also Greek night at Trojan Arena as all Troy University Greek organizations are encouraged to attend. A Greek intramural basketball game will be played at halftime of the women's game. The Troy men's team will host Georgia Southern on Thursday night as well, with tip off set for 7:30 p.m.

Links to live video, live stats and free live audio can be found at TroyTrojans.com. Fans in Troy can also hear the game on WTBF 94.7 FM. For live, in-game updates on Twitter, follow @TroyTrojansWBB.

Troy (10-11, 5-7) led by 12 points at halftime, but lost at Little Rock last Thursday after shooting just 26 percent in the second half. Troy then led with 6:00 minutes to go at Arkansas State on Saturday, but saw the Red Wolves go on a 16-3 run to win 94-80 in a game that featured 20 lead changes.

Against the Sun Belt leading Red Wolves, Troy shot just 35 percent in the fourth quarter while Arkansas State hit on 62 percent and also went to the line 18 times in the final 10 minutes.

Ashley Beverly Kelley led the Trojans in scoring in both games, including a 32-point effort at Arkansas State, her third 30-point of the season and the ninth of her career. The rest of the Sun Belt as a whole has combined for just three other 30-point games this season.

Beverly Kelley is the league's leading scorer in all games at 19.8 points per game and in Sun Belt games at 20.8 per game. Her 1,731 career points are the most among active Sun Belt players and just 25 points shy of moving her into the Sun Belt's all-time top-25 scoring list.

At Arkansas State, ArJae' Saunders added a career-high 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting. The junior has scored in double figures in six of Troy's last eight games and is now averaging 9.8 points per game, just shy of becoming the third Trojan in double figures.

Caitlyn Ramirez is the second, averaging 12.4 points to rank ninth in the Sun Belt, despite playing just 21.5 minutes per game while the rest of the top 10 all play at least 28.8 per game.

Troy still ranks fifth in the NCAA in scoring at 82.2 points per game. If Troy scores 80 points against Georgia Southern, it would be the 50th time they've done so in 115 games under Chanda Rigby. Troy has scored 80 in all three games against the Eagles under Rigby.

Georgia Southern (7-14, 4-8) scored a season-high 78 points in a 78-64 win over Texas State in their most recent game last Saturday, a win that snapped a three-game losing streak. Angel McGowan scored 24 points and Patrice Butler scored 23 to lead the Eagles.

McGowan, at 15.5 points per game, and Butler, at 12.1 per game, lead a Georgia Southern team that averages a Sun Belt-low 52.8 as a team. Under first-year head coach Kip Drown, Georgia Southern does rank third in the league with 6.3 3-pointers per game.

Troy is 7-2 all-time against Georgia Southern, including seven straight wins, Troy's longest active winning streak against any Sun Belt team. Troy is 3-0 since the Eagles joined the Sun Belt, including an 81-66 win in Statesboro earlier this season. Troy is 3-0 all-time against Georgia Southern at home.

Following Thursday's game, Troy will host Georgia State on Saturday in its annual Play 4Kay game at 2 p.m. The Trojans will wear pink uniforms, fans are encouraged to wear pink and a silent auction will be held during both the men's and women's games. The first 300 fans will also receive free pink rally towels.

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

Caitlyn Ramirez

ArJae' Saunders