Troy Battles Back to Defeat Sam Houston State

Friday, November 23

Hattiesburg, Miss.

4 p.m.

Troy University

4-1

Sam Houston State

2-3

Sam Houston State

Troy

Troy Battles Back to Defeat Sam Houston State

11/23/2018 7:29:00 PM | Basketball (W)

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi – Troy erased a 17-point second quarter deficit to defeat Sam Houston State, 84-79, on Friday in Reed Green Coliseum on Friday.

After both teams combined to shoot just 2-of-19 to open the game, the Bearkats (2-3) exploded on a 19-3 run to end the first quarter and take a 21-8 lead after 10 minutes. The eight points in the first frame were a season low for the Trojans (4-1).

Sam Houston led 31-14 at the six-and-a-half-minute mark before Amber Rivers scored six straight points to spark a 13-2 Troy run. Tyra Johnson capped the surge with a 3-pointer to pull the Trojans to within four, 34-30. But SHSU scored the last seven points to finish the half with an 11-point advantage, 41-30.

Threes by Jasmine Robinson and Harriett Winchester cut into the Sam Houston State lead, while Japonica James scored eight of her team-high 16 points in the third quarter. Amahni Upshaw tied the score at 54-all with a layup with 1:22 left in the quarter.

Johnson's 3-pointer at the 9:43 mark in the fourth gave Troy its first lead of the game, 59-58. In similar fashion to the East Tennessee State game on Saturday, the Trojans dominated the final three minutes not allowing a field goal in the last 2:54 of the contest. Troy shot 62 percent (10-16) over the last 10 minutes.

Rivers turned in her first double-double of the season and fifth of her career with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Winchester also finished in double figures with 12 points to go along with five rebounds. All 12 Trojans that played in the game scored.

Sam Houston State's Jenniffer Oramas had a monster day with a career-high28 points with six rebounds. Jaylonn Walker had 16 points, six steals and five assists.

UP NEXT
Troy wraps up play in the USM Lady Eagle Classic with a 2 p.m. matchup against Mississippi Valley State. The all-time series between the program is tied, 2-2, with the last meeting taking place in 2010, a 62-56 Troy win.

NOTEWORTHY
• Troy held Sam Houston State to 1-of-11 shooting from 3-point range in the first half and 7-of-26 for the game. Opponents are shooting just 20.6 percent from distance on the season.

• The Trojans outrebounded Sam Houston State, 49-37, which included 20 offensive boards.

• Troy will look to match its best start under Chanda Rigby with a win on Saturday. The Trojans opened the 2016-17 season 5-1 before going on to win its second straight Sun Belt Conference Tournament title.

For more information on Troy women's basketball, visit TroyTrojans.com or follow the team on Twitter at @TroyTrojansWBB.