Troy Eyes Third Straight Sun Belt Tournament Title

Thursday, March 8

New Orleans, La.

2 P.M.

Troy University

South Alabama

Troy Eyes Third Straight Sun Belt Tournament Title

3/7/2018 10:24:00 AM | Basketball (W)

By: Wes Johnson

VIDEO | AUDIO | LIVE STATS | TWITTER

NEW ORLEANS – The fourth-seeded Troy women's basketball team is eyeing its third consecutive title as it takes on No. 5 South Alabama in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday at 2 p.m. in Lakefront Arena.

The Trojans (17-12) won the tournament as a No. 4 seed in 2016 and as the No. 3 seed last season. Troy and South Alabama have met thrice in the tournament with the Trojans taking two of those matchups including a 62-49 decision in the 2016 quarterfinal round.

It was a rollercoaster regular season for the Trojans after losing seven seniors from last year's squad. After posting a 5-6 mark in non-conference play and sputtering to a 2-4 start in league action, Troy found its stride and reeled off six straight wins and finished the regular season winning 10 of its last 12 games.

Sophomore Kayla Robinson emerged as a difference-maker becoming the first player in league history to win three consecutive Sun Belt Player of the Week awards (1/29-2/12). During that eight-game stretch, the All-Sun Belt Second Team selection raised her scoring averaging 4.5 points per game from 9.5 to 13.0. Since becoming an everyday starter, Troy is 10-3 and Robinson is averaging 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

Amber Rivers was also named All-Sun Belt second team after leading the team averaging 14.2 points per contest. The sophomore is third in the conference shooting 48.2 percent from the field and has scored in double digit in 24 of 29 games this season.

Tyler Junior College product Sky'Lynn Holmes turned in an impressive first season as a Trojan ranking fourth in the Sun Belt with 8.5 rebounds per game earning her Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year honors. She posted five double-doubles and chalked up 21 rebounds against Louisiana on Feb. 22, one shy of tying Troy's Division I single-game record.

TOURNAMENT INFO
Lakefront Arena in New Orleans plays host to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for the fifth straight year. Tickets for the tournament are $120 and include all 22 games from Tuesday, March 6 through the championship games on Sunday, March 11. Tickets may be purchased directly through the Troy Ticket Office by calling 877-878-WINS (9467) or by visiting the Troy Ticket Office in Trojan Arena.

FAN HEADQUARTERS
The Country Inn & Suites in Metairie (2713 N. Causeway Blvd.) will serve as the Troy fan hotel. Rooms are available through Troy for $139 per night (plus tax) with a three-night minimum. Those wishing to book rooms at this hotel are asked to contact Steve Stroud at (334) 670-3684 or sastroud@troy.edu.

There will also be a Troy fan headquarters for Trojan fans to gather prior to each Troy game of the tournament for food and fellowship. Fans are asked to meet at Buffalo Wild Wings (3434 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, LA) two hours prior to each Troy game. The Athletics Department and Troy Alumni Association will have complimentary appetizers as well as giveaways for Troy fans to enjoy. Additionally, Troy will provide a complimentary fan shuttle for Troy fans between Buffalo Wild Wings and Lakefront Arena before and after each Troy game. The shuttle is scheduled to depart from the fan headquarters at Buffalo Wild Wings approximately one hour prior to the start of each Troy game and return after the game.

HOW TO FOLLOW
Tip: 2 p.m.
Video: ESPN3
Audio: TroyTrojans.com/Watch
Radio: WTBF 94.7 FM
Live Stats: SunBeltStats.com
Twitter: @TroyTrojansWBB

SERIES INFO
Overall: Tied 22-22
            At Troy: Troy leads 13-7
            At Mobile: USA leads 14-7
            At Neutral: Troy leads 2-1
In SBC Tournament: Troy leads 2-1
2017-18 Meetings:
            Jan. 13 – USA won, 79-68 (in Mobile)
            Feb. 3 – Troy won, 82-71 (in Troy)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Fifth-seeded South Alabama went wire-to-wire against No. 12 ULM in an 80-54 victory to start the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in New Orleans on Tuesday.

Antoinette Lewis lead the Jags with 20 points on a 9-of-10 shooting day, making her lone three-point attempt, and going 1-for-2 at the charity-stripe. Lewis also brought down five rebounds, had a pair of steals, a block and a career-high three assists.

Savannah Jones had a 15-point day going 5-for-9 from the field, making four three-point baskets on five attempts and a free-throw as part of an and-one. The redshirt freshman grabbed five rebounds, had a steal and a block in the victory.

Chyna Ellis shot an efficient 4-of-6 from the field, 3-of-5 on three-point attempts, and 3-of-4 at the free-throw line for 14 points. The center collected three rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block. The block was her 94th of the season and broke her single-season program record she set last season (93).

NOTEWORTHY
• The Trojans enter the tournament leading the nation averaging 49.7 rebounds per games. Troy is also first with 21.0 offensive boards per game leading to an average of 18.3 second chance points.

• Troy has won six consecutive Sun Belt Conference Tournament games and are the back-to-back Sun Belt Tournament champions.

• Troy and Baylor are the only two teams in the nation to lead its conference in scoring (82.6 ppg) and rebounding (49.7) in each of the last six seasons.

• Troy collected 57 rebounds in its season finale at Georgia Southern, the 13th time the Trojans have posted 50+ rebounds in a game this season.

• Sophomore Kayla Robinson has accounted for 21 percent (222-1077) of Troy's offense since taking over 13 games ago as the team's starting point guard.

• Chanda Rigby's Troy teams have scored 80-plus points 89 times in her six seasons, something the Trojans did just seven times in the previous four years.

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