Troy Set for WNIT Clash with UAB

GAME NOTES (TROY) | GAME NOTES (UAB) | TICKETS

TROY, Alabama – The Troy women's basketball team will host UAB in Trojan Arena in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The Trojans (22-8) enter the postseason for the fifth time in program history and the fourth time in five seasons; it will be the program's first appearance in the WNIT. Troy started the season 16-3, best in program history, and finished third with a 13-5 Sun Belt Conference record.

Sky'Lynn Holmes was named Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year despite being lost for the season to injury on Feb. 28. Juniors Japonica James and Jasmine LeBlanc have stepped up averaging 11.6 and 10.8 points per game, respectively since the injury, and 6.5 rebounds per game combined.

Troy's 22 regular season wins were the most in program history and second-most overall behind only the 1996-97 team, which finished 23-7 and made the program's first NCAA appearance. The Trojans led the Sun Belt Conference in scoring average (82.1) and rebounding average (50.6) for the seventh consecutive season, the team ranks sixth in the nation in scoring and leads the NCAA in rebounding.

The game will mark the first time in program history Troy has hosted a postseason game. Tickets will go on sale at 8 a.m. Tuesday, general admission tickets are $5, while students will be admitted for free.

HOW TO FOLLOW
Tip: 6 p.m.
Live Video: ESPN+
Radio: WTBF 94.7 FM
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Twitter: @TroyTrojansWBB

STATISTICAL LEADERS
TROY
Pts: Amber Rivers (10.4)
Reb: Sky'Lynn Holmes (9.4)
Ast: Jasmine Robinson (92)
Blk: Sky'Lynn Holmes (26)
Stl: Sky'Lynn Holmes (48)

UAB
Pts: Rachael Childress (14.4)
Reb: Deanna Kuzmanic (5.3)
Ast: Miyah Barnes (150)
Blk: Angela Vendrell (35)
Stl: Angela Vendrell (31)

SERIES INFO
Overall: UAB leads, 8-2
            At Troy: UAB leads, 3-1
            At Birmingham: UAB leads, 5-1
            Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: Dec. 18, 2016 – UAB won, 81-77 (at Troy)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT
UAB has amassed a 53-13 record over the last two seasons and put together the first consecutive 25 plus wins seasons in program history. The Blazers placed second in this year's Conference USA standings, while Rachael Childress earned First Team All-Conference USA honors and Deanna Kuzmanic and Miyah Barnes were second team selections.

The Blazers ranked among the nation's best this season in 3-point field goal percentage (36.3 percent), 3-point field goals per game (9.0) and set the school record for triples in a season (280).

UAB reached the post season for the 10th time in school history and first the first time in back-to-back seasons since 1999-00, 2000-01. UAB holds a combined 12-9 record in postseason play with a 7-7 mark in the WNIT.

NOTEWORTHY
• Thursday marks Troy's first-ever appearance in the WNIT. The Trojans will be making their fourth postseason appearance in the last five seasons - WBI (2015), NCAA (2016), NCAA (2017), WNIT (2019).

• Troy and Baylor (Big XII) are the only two teams in the country to lead their respective conferences in scoring average (82.1) and rebounding (50.6) average in each of the last seven seasons.

• Troy and UAB have met 10 time previously leading into Thursday's matchup. The Blazers lead the all-time series 8-2, that began in 1979.

• Through 30 games, 11 of the 14 players on the roster are averaging 11-plus minutes per game and 10 different players have led Troy in scoring in a game.

• Troy has four 20-plus win seasons under seventh year head coach Chanda Rigby. In the 37 seasons prior to Rigby's arrival, the Trojans had won 20 games in a season just three times.

• Japonica James ranks third in the Sun Belt shooting 56.2 percent from the field, just 1.6 pct behind the league's leader. James could become the first Trojans to lead the SBC in scoring since joining in 2005.

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

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Players Mentioned

Sky'Lynn Holmes

Japonica James

Jasmine LeBlanc

Amber Rivers

Jasmine Robinson

Troy University Athletics