Troy University Athletics
Friday, November 27
Hattiesburg, Miss.
6 p.m.
Troy University
1-0,0-0Sun Belt
81
vs
69
SE Louisiana
1-1,0-0Southland
1
2
3
4
F
Troy
17
18
22
24
81
Southeastern La.
11
23
20
15
69
Seniors Power Troy Past SE Louisiana on Opening Night
11/27/2020 10:29:00 PM | Basketball (W)
HATTIESBURG, MISS. – Alexus Dye recorded her 10th career double-double to lead Troy to an 81-69 season opening victory over SE Louisiana Friday night in the opening game of the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic.
*Official stats will be updated when they become available at a later time
Troy's seniors led the way in Hattiesburg, combining to score 64 of the teams 81 points. Tiyah Johnson led the team in scoring with 19 points while Dye added 18 points and 11 rebounds. It was Dye's 13th career double-digit rebounding performance. Janiah Sandifer scored 11 points on a team-high, three made three-pointers while Emely Rosario's passing was on full display as she dished out nine assists while adding seven points and five boards to her totals. Kennedi White had a big game in her first collegiate game with five points and seven boards. The Lions were led by Cierria Cunningham who led all scorers with 20 points while also leading her team in rebounds with eight.
The opening day nerves were evident at the start of the game as both teams started slow, working towards a 6-5 score near the midway point of the first quarter. Throughout the night neither team was able to pull ahead as runs were split evenly from the opening tip.
After going into the locker room with a 35-34 advantage, Troy quickly found themselves trailing for the first time since the opening minutes of the game. The deficit didn't last as three straight possessions ended in points as Sandifer hit a big three followed by a pair of free throws by Johnson and a layup from Tyasia Moore.
With a 57-54 lead at the start of the final frame the seniors on the roster started to take over, scoring 18 of the first 19 Troy points of the quarter. Leading the way was Sandifer who drilled back-to-back triples to open the fourth before Johnson added four points and Dye another three. Moore added a jumper before White snapped the seniors streak with a free throw. Troy used that scoring burst to build a 15-point lead, its largest of the contest, before closing out opening night with an 81-69 victory.
Records
Troy: 1-0
SE Louisiana: 1-1
Quoting Coach Rigby
First reaction after opening night win
"There were so many question marks before this game so I was pleased with what I saw and that we got some answers to those question marks. Everybody played, the freshmen contributed and they played bigger than freshmen in many instances. I was also very pleased with our veterans. Of course Alexus [Dye] came out and was really looking good on offense but Janiah [Sandifer] and Tiyah [Johnson] did great on the road. Emely Rosario kept us under control and did what you would want a senior guard to do. She kept us under control and kept us from making too many mistakes."
Trojan Notables
• Troy extended its winning streak to seven games dating back to Feb. 15, 2020
• The Trojans shot 46 percent from the field and 52 percent from behind-the-arc. Troy only shot better than 50 percent from three once all of last season
• Samira Moore became the first freshman to start at Troy since the 2017-18 season
• Troy grabbed 52 rebounds, three shy of last year's nation leading average of 55
Up Next
Troy will be back in action on Saturday for game two of the 33rd Annual Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic. The Trojans will take on Alabama A&M at 2 p.m. It will be the two schools first meeting since 1987.
Follow TROY Women's Basketball
Social: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Join The Conversation: #OneTROY
*Official stats will be updated when they become available at a later time
Troy's seniors led the way in Hattiesburg, combining to score 64 of the teams 81 points. Tiyah Johnson led the team in scoring with 19 points while Dye added 18 points and 11 rebounds. It was Dye's 13th career double-digit rebounding performance. Janiah Sandifer scored 11 points on a team-high, three made three-pointers while Emely Rosario's passing was on full display as she dished out nine assists while adding seven points and five boards to her totals. Kennedi White had a big game in her first collegiate game with five points and seven boards. The Lions were led by Cierria Cunningham who led all scorers with 20 points while also leading her team in rebounds with eight.
The opening day nerves were evident at the start of the game as both teams started slow, working towards a 6-5 score near the midway point of the first quarter. Throughout the night neither team was able to pull ahead as runs were split evenly from the opening tip.
After going into the locker room with a 35-34 advantage, Troy quickly found themselves trailing for the first time since the opening minutes of the game. The deficit didn't last as three straight possessions ended in points as Sandifer hit a big three followed by a pair of free throws by Johnson and a layup from Tyasia Moore.
With a 57-54 lead at the start of the final frame the seniors on the roster started to take over, scoring 18 of the first 19 Troy points of the quarter. Leading the way was Sandifer who drilled back-to-back triples to open the fourth before Johnson added four points and Dye another three. Moore added a jumper before White snapped the seniors streak with a free throw. Troy used that scoring burst to build a 15-point lead, its largest of the contest, before closing out opening night with an 81-69 victory.
Records
Troy: 1-0
SE Louisiana: 1-1
Quoting Coach Rigby
First reaction after opening night win
"There were so many question marks before this game so I was pleased with what I saw and that we got some answers to those question marks. Everybody played, the freshmen contributed and they played bigger than freshmen in many instances. I was also very pleased with our veterans. Of course Alexus [Dye] came out and was really looking good on offense but Janiah [Sandifer] and Tiyah [Johnson] did great on the road. Emely Rosario kept us under control and did what you would want a senior guard to do. She kept us under control and kept us from making too many mistakes."
Trojan Notables
• Troy extended its winning streak to seven games dating back to Feb. 15, 2020
• The Trojans shot 46 percent from the field and 52 percent from behind-the-arc. Troy only shot better than 50 percent from three once all of last season
• Samira Moore became the first freshman to start at Troy since the 2017-18 season
• Troy grabbed 52 rebounds, three shy of last year's nation leading average of 55
Up Next
Troy will be back in action on Saturday for game two of the 33rd Annual Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic. The Trojans will take on Alabama A&M at 2 p.m. It will be the two schools first meeting since 1987.
Follow TROY Women's Basketball
Social: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Join The Conversation: #OneTROY
Team Stats
TROY
SL
FG%
.475
.351
3FG%
.533
.154
FT%
.600
.440
RB
53
40
TO
24
16
STL
7
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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