Troy University Athletics
Saturday, January 25
Troy, Ala.
2 p.m.
Troy University
16-3,7-1Sun Belt
85
vs
69
UT Arlington
12-8,6-2Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
UT Arlington
8
23
14
24
69
Troy
16
21
22
26
85
Women's Basketball Alone Atop the Standings After Win over UTA
1/25/2020 5:58:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – Hyped as the biggest game so far this season, the nearly 2,000 in attendance were not disappointed. Troy (16-3, 7-1 SBC) used stifling defense, balanced offense and relentless pressure to upend UT-Arlington (12-8, 6-2) by a score of 85-69 to snap a three-game skid to the Mavericks, while also taking sole possession of first-place atop the Sun Belt Standings.
In what will be the lone regular season meeting between the two schools, Troy's defense was stifling from the opening tip, forcing UTA into multiple shot clock violations while holding the Sun Belt Conference's leading scorer, Marie Benson (17.9 ppg) to just four total points. The Trojans held the best shooting percentage team in the league to just 37 percent from the field, seven percentage points below their season average. The Trojan defense, that is allowing just 66.6 points per game this season, allowed UTA to score just 69 points, their fourth lowest scoring output in SBC games this season. Troy's defense forced 20 turnovers, recorded nine steals and blocked four shots.
On the offensive end Troy shot 35 percent from the field on 24-of-68 shooting. A big difference in the game came from the free throw line. After shooting 51 percent from the charity stripe in the previous four games, the Trojans looked like their normal selves shooting 70 percent on 33-of-47 shooting. Jasmine Robinson led the way for Troy with a team-high 17-points, nine of which came from behind the arc for the second straight game. Three other Trojans reach double-digits with Japonica James and Alexus Dye each scoring 13 and Amber Rivers adding 11.
Troy dominated UTA on the glass 58-31. Troy's +27 rebounding edge is the largest deficit UTA has experienced in a game since March 11, 2017 when they were outrebounded by 34 against Troy. The strong rebounding effort for Troy was led a guard in Harriet Winchester who had a game, and career-high, 14 boards. Winchester added two steals, two assists and six points to her stat line. Tyasia Moore also recorded double-digit rebounds with 12.
After a shaky start the game where UTA led 5-8 thanks to an 8-2 run, Troy locked down on defense and allowed the game to come to them. The Trojans went on a 17-0 run all while holding UTA scoreless for seven and a half minutes, building a 22-8 lead in the second-quarter. UTA didn't go away, winning the second-quarter scoring battle 23-21. That would be the only quarter UTA would win as Troy outscored the Mavericks 48-38 in the second-half on their way to am 85-69 victory over the team they were tied with atop the Sun Belt Standings.
Records
Troy: 16-3 (7-1 SBC)
UT-Arlington: 12-8 (6-2 SBC)
Quoting Coach Rigby
On the overall outcome of the game
"It was a great night in Trojan Arena. We had a great crowd here, a great sixth man with our fans. It was an electric atmosphere, the players came out to play, the coaches were on point. We held multi Sun Belt Player of the Week [Marie Benson] to just four points and it was just a great game plan. The players showed a lot if maturity. There isn't a way you're going to play a team like Texas-Arlington and not have them make runs but we got the game in control and weathered their runs. They came storming back but were not able to score in their traditional ways."
On the stout defense
"The defense was huge. It helps to have Kate Rodgers in the middle. To me she's the best defensive player in the Sun Belt Conference that I have seen. She does her job every night and allows us to do extra things because she is holding it down in the lane against the other team's best post player night in and night out."
Trojan Notables
• This is the first time since March 3, 2018 that UTA has lost a conference game by double-digits
• Troy scored at least 70-points for the 12th straight game and the 17th time this season. When scoring at least 70 points Troy is 8-1
• Troy won the points in the paint battle 30-22 despite UTA having three players 6-3 or taller
• The Trojans had 26 second-chance points compared to just 2 for UTA
Up Next
Troy will be back in Trojan Arena Next Saturday, Feb. 1 to host in-state rival South Alabama. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Follow TROY Women's Basketball
Social: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Join The Conversation: #GrindToShine | #OneTROY
In what will be the lone regular season meeting between the two schools, Troy's defense was stifling from the opening tip, forcing UTA into multiple shot clock violations while holding the Sun Belt Conference's leading scorer, Marie Benson (17.9 ppg) to just four total points. The Trojans held the best shooting percentage team in the league to just 37 percent from the field, seven percentage points below their season average. The Trojan defense, that is allowing just 66.6 points per game this season, allowed UTA to score just 69 points, their fourth lowest scoring output in SBC games this season. Troy's defense forced 20 turnovers, recorded nine steals and blocked four shots.
On the offensive end Troy shot 35 percent from the field on 24-of-68 shooting. A big difference in the game came from the free throw line. After shooting 51 percent from the charity stripe in the previous four games, the Trojans looked like their normal selves shooting 70 percent on 33-of-47 shooting. Jasmine Robinson led the way for Troy with a team-high 17-points, nine of which came from behind the arc for the second straight game. Three other Trojans reach double-digits with Japonica James and Alexus Dye each scoring 13 and Amber Rivers adding 11.
Troy dominated UTA on the glass 58-31. Troy's +27 rebounding edge is the largest deficit UTA has experienced in a game since March 11, 2017 when they were outrebounded by 34 against Troy. The strong rebounding effort for Troy was led a guard in Harriet Winchester who had a game, and career-high, 14 boards. Winchester added two steals, two assists and six points to her stat line. Tyasia Moore also recorded double-digit rebounds with 12.
After a shaky start the game where UTA led 5-8 thanks to an 8-2 run, Troy locked down on defense and allowed the game to come to them. The Trojans went on a 17-0 run all while holding UTA scoreless for seven and a half minutes, building a 22-8 lead in the second-quarter. UTA didn't go away, winning the second-quarter scoring battle 23-21. That would be the only quarter UTA would win as Troy outscored the Mavericks 48-38 in the second-half on their way to am 85-69 victory over the team they were tied with atop the Sun Belt Standings.
Records
Troy: 16-3 (7-1 SBC)
UT-Arlington: 12-8 (6-2 SBC)
Quoting Coach Rigby
On the overall outcome of the game
"It was a great night in Trojan Arena. We had a great crowd here, a great sixth man with our fans. It was an electric atmosphere, the players came out to play, the coaches were on point. We held multi Sun Belt Player of the Week [Marie Benson] to just four points and it was just a great game plan. The players showed a lot if maturity. There isn't a way you're going to play a team like Texas-Arlington and not have them make runs but we got the game in control and weathered their runs. They came storming back but were not able to score in their traditional ways."
On the stout defense
"The defense was huge. It helps to have Kate Rodgers in the middle. To me she's the best defensive player in the Sun Belt Conference that I have seen. She does her job every night and allows us to do extra things because she is holding it down in the lane against the other team's best post player night in and night out."
Trojan Notables
• This is the first time since March 3, 2018 that UTA has lost a conference game by double-digits
• Troy scored at least 70-points for the 12th straight game and the 17th time this season. When scoring at least 70 points Troy is 8-1
• Troy won the points in the paint battle 30-22 despite UTA having three players 6-3 or taller
• The Trojans had 26 second-chance points compared to just 2 for UTA
Up Next
Troy will be back in Trojan Arena Next Saturday, Feb. 1 to host in-state rival South Alabama. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Follow TROY Women's Basketball
Social: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Join The Conversation: #GrindToShine | #OneTROY
Team Stats
UTA
TROY
FG%
.377
.353
3FG%
.286
.182
FT%
.810
.702
RB
31
58
TO
20
19
STL
7
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Basketball (W)F
/ Basketball (W)
F
/ Basketball (W)F
/ Basketball (W)G
/ Basketball (W)
F
/ Basketball (W)
G
/ Basketball (W)Ashley Beverly Kelley - Troy University Sports Hall of Fame
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Friday, April 04
Chanda Rigby WNIT Championship Press Conference
Friday, April 04
Chanda Rigby Postgame Press Conference - Illinois State
Thursday, April 03