Women's Basketball Defeats Coastal Carolina to Open Sun Belt Play

Thursday, January 2

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

10-2,1-0Sun Belt

Coastal Carolina

10-2,0-1Sun Belt

Coastal Carolina

Troy

Women's Basketball Defeats Coastal Carolina to Open Sun Belt Play

1/2/2020 10:09:00 PM | Basketball (W)

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Troy women's basketball earned win No. 10 with its 84-77 victory over Coastal Carolina at home to open Sun Belt Conference play Thursday night. The win was the Trojans seventh straight overall and its fourth consecutive season opening Sun Belt play with a victory.

After a back-and-forth first-quarter, Troy got a spark from Janiah Sandifer who hit a triple as time expired in the first before opening the second with another three. The back-to-back triples proved crucial as Troy scored the next 14-points while also holding Coastal Carolina scoreless for the first minutes of the second. The Trojans ended the quarter on a 27-9 run before going into the half with a 49-31 advantage.

Out of the break Troy picked up right where they left off, scoring 15 of the first 22 points in the quarter and grabbing a 24-point lead, its largest of the contest. With the 24-point lead and just six minutes left in the third, Coastal began its comeback. The Chanticleers outscored Troy 34-20 in the final 15 minutes of the game, with 15 of those points coming from behind the arc. Troy was able to close the door on Coastal from the free throw line as they scored their final eight points of the game from the charity stripe to walk away with an 84-77 victory.

Records
Troy: 10-2 (1-0 SBC)
Coastal Carolina: 10-2 (0-1 SBC)

Trojan Spotlight
Tiyah Johnson was key for the Trojans on Thursday with 12-points, six coming from behind the arc and six from the free throw line. Johnson was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe while also adding four rebounds and two steals in 21 minutes of action. Johnson led the team in +/- when she was on the court with a score of +20.

Quoting Coach Rigby
thoughts on tonight's game
"Well I am really proud of the staff and players. Coach Graf scouted this game and gave us a great game plan, which included getting the ball in the post, but Coastal was the hottest team in the conference coming in to tonight's game and they had done some amazing things this season so far. They are similar to us in that they are deep at many positions. This was a great test and a great win."

On Playing the game the TROY Way
"We were a little nervous about it at halftime because we were tied in rebounds. The games we win we out rebound people and we stepped that up in the second half, having some help from some of our guards. What carried us in the first half was our ability to shoot the basketball. It was good to be back in Trojan Arena."

Trojan Notables
• Troy improved to 39-9 in their last 48 SBC games when playing at home
• Troy has now won five straight SBC games dating back to last season
• Jasmine Robinson led the Trojans in scoring with 15-points. She was followed by Tiyah Johnson and Amber Rivers who each scored 12 and Alexus Dye who scored 11
• Harriet Winchester, Kate Rodgers and Dye all hauled in nine rebounds
• Troy outrebounded Coastal 58-44

Up Next
Troy will be back at home on Saturday when they host Appalachian State at 2 p.m.

Follow TROY Women's Basketball
Social: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Join The Conversation: #GrindToShine | #OneTROY