Troy University Athletics
Sunday, December 20
Troy, Ala.
2 p.m.
Troy University
4-3,0-0Sun Belt
90
vs
71
Martin Methodist (Tenn.)
0-2
1
2
3
4
F
Martin Methodist
26
12
18
15
71
Troy
14
22
30
24
90
Women's Basketball Overcomes Scare From Martin Methodist
12/20/2020 5:40:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – A second-half spark propelled Troy women's basketball to a 90-71 victory on Sunday after Martin Methodist gave the Trojans all it could handle for the full 40 minutes.
Martin Methodist came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, shooting 40 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind-the-arc in the first-half. Behind a strong performance from Faith Sherrow, 17-points in the first half and 23 for the game, the RedHawks took a 14-point lead midway through the second-quarter before Troy started to lock down on defense, and turning those defensive stops into points, going on a 14-3 run over of the final 3:30 of the first-half.
Troy came out of the locker room and surrendered the first two points of the third before Alexus Dye and Janiah Sandifer combined to score seven straight points and give the Trojans a 43-40 lead, a lead they would not surrender the rest of the way.
A 13-0 run in the third and a 14-0 run in the final frame, both highlighted by Tyasia Moore, allowed Troy to gain a little breathing room and take a commanding 24-point lead, Troy's largest lead of the contest, before ultimately closing out 2020 with a 90-71 victory over a talented Martin Methodist squad.
Offensively Troy was led by senior Janiah Sandifer who posted a career-high 19-points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. Sandifer also had six rebounds and two assists. Moore also earned a new career mark with 16 points, six rebounds, a block and an assist while Felmas Koranga posted her first double-double as a Trojan with 14-points and 11 rebounds. Alexus Dye (13-points) and Jhileiya Dunlap (12-points) rounded out the double-figure scorers for the Trojans.
For the game, Troy shot 47 percent from the field (33-70) and 31 percent from deep (4-14) while shooting 83 percent from the free throw line. This was Troy's second game this season shooting over 80 percent from the charity stripe.
After its strong start, Martin Methodist ended the game shooting 36 percent from the field and 33 percent from deep. Four RedHawks scored in double-figures, Sherrow (23), Erin Freeman (17) and Laurhen Pickett and Taylor McNairy who each scored 12. McNairy posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 assists.
Records
Troy: 4-3
Martin Methodist: 1-3
Quoting Coach Rigby
On earned win number 150 of her Troy career
"I'm humbled and I feel very very grateful. It's more than I deserve and I'm just thankful for it. It's a lot of prayer and faith and a lot of wins and it's been a fun ride so far."
On Martin Methodist putting a scare into Troy
"So two things, first of all, the coach Billy Evans] is phenomenal. I've known him since we were high school coaches. We were both coaching several sports, we met as tennis coaches even though we were both basketball coaches and this was way back in the early 90's. We've played against each other several years as we've grown in our careers but he's always been tough. We looked at the film on this team before they came in and said 'this is probably one of the best-coached teams we'll play this year', and hats off to his girls, they execute well and they did a good job and that's one part of it. The other part is we are making some adjustments that are ugly right now but that we think will pay major dividends down the road."
Trojan Notables
• This is the second consecutive season that Troy has gone undefeated at home against non-conference teams, posting a 7-0 record in those games
• With the victory, Troy has won nine straight games overall inside Trojan Arena dating back to Jan. 23, 2020. Troy's nine wins ties the program winning streak record inside Trojan Arena that was set between Jan. 22, 2018, and Nov. 29, 2018
• Head coach Chanda Rigby earned her 150th career victory at Troy and her 379th collegiate victory. Her 150 wins at Troy are the second-most in program history, trailing Joyce Sorrell who won 274 career games over 20 seasons as the head coach
• Koranga earned her first double-double, second career game, as a Trojan and now joins Alexus Dye to be averaging a double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds)
• Troy assisted on 18 of its 33 made field goals. Troy has assisted on 55 percent of their made field goals this season
• Troy erased a 14-point deficit in the final three-quarters of the game to win on Sunday. It was the largest deficit Troy has overcame to win since being down 15 last season at South Alabama
• Janiah Sandifer has made 10 consecutive free throws dating back to Troy's game at Middle Tennessee
Up Next
Troy will take some time off for the holiday season but will be back in action on New Year's Day when they host App State to kickoff the Sun Belt Conference season. The Trojans will host the Mountaineers at 6 p.m. on Friday and again on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Follow TROY Women's Basketball
Social: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Join The Conversation: #OneTROY
Martin Methodist came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, shooting 40 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind-the-arc in the first-half. Behind a strong performance from Faith Sherrow, 17-points in the first half and 23 for the game, the RedHawks took a 14-point lead midway through the second-quarter before Troy started to lock down on defense, and turning those defensive stops into points, going on a 14-3 run over of the final 3:30 of the first-half.
Troy came out of the locker room and surrendered the first two points of the third before Alexus Dye and Janiah Sandifer combined to score seven straight points and give the Trojans a 43-40 lead, a lead they would not surrender the rest of the way.
A 13-0 run in the third and a 14-0 run in the final frame, both highlighted by Tyasia Moore, allowed Troy to gain a little breathing room and take a commanding 24-point lead, Troy's largest lead of the contest, before ultimately closing out 2020 with a 90-71 victory over a talented Martin Methodist squad.
Offensively Troy was led by senior Janiah Sandifer who posted a career-high 19-points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. Sandifer also had six rebounds and two assists. Moore also earned a new career mark with 16 points, six rebounds, a block and an assist while Felmas Koranga posted her first double-double as a Trojan with 14-points and 11 rebounds. Alexus Dye (13-points) and Jhileiya Dunlap (12-points) rounded out the double-figure scorers for the Trojans.
For the game, Troy shot 47 percent from the field (33-70) and 31 percent from deep (4-14) while shooting 83 percent from the free throw line. This was Troy's second game this season shooting over 80 percent from the charity stripe.
After its strong start, Martin Methodist ended the game shooting 36 percent from the field and 33 percent from deep. Four RedHawks scored in double-figures, Sherrow (23), Erin Freeman (17) and Laurhen Pickett and Taylor McNairy who each scored 12. McNairy posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 assists.
Records
Troy: 4-3
Martin Methodist: 1-3
Quoting Coach Rigby
On earned win number 150 of her Troy career
"I'm humbled and I feel very very grateful. It's more than I deserve and I'm just thankful for it. It's a lot of prayer and faith and a lot of wins and it's been a fun ride so far."
On Martin Methodist putting a scare into Troy
"So two things, first of all, the coach Billy Evans] is phenomenal. I've known him since we were high school coaches. We were both coaching several sports, we met as tennis coaches even though we were both basketball coaches and this was way back in the early 90's. We've played against each other several years as we've grown in our careers but he's always been tough. We looked at the film on this team before they came in and said 'this is probably one of the best-coached teams we'll play this year', and hats off to his girls, they execute well and they did a good job and that's one part of it. The other part is we are making some adjustments that are ugly right now but that we think will pay major dividends down the road."
Trojan Notables
• This is the second consecutive season that Troy has gone undefeated at home against non-conference teams, posting a 7-0 record in those games
• With the victory, Troy has won nine straight games overall inside Trojan Arena dating back to Jan. 23, 2020. Troy's nine wins ties the program winning streak record inside Trojan Arena that was set between Jan. 22, 2018, and Nov. 29, 2018
• Head coach Chanda Rigby earned her 150th career victory at Troy and her 379th collegiate victory. Her 150 wins at Troy are the second-most in program history, trailing Joyce Sorrell who won 274 career games over 20 seasons as the head coach
• Koranga earned her first double-double, second career game, as a Trojan and now joins Alexus Dye to be averaging a double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds)
• Troy assisted on 18 of its 33 made field goals. Troy has assisted on 55 percent of their made field goals this season
• Troy erased a 14-point deficit in the final three-quarters of the game to win on Sunday. It was the largest deficit Troy has overcame to win since being down 15 last season at South Alabama
• Janiah Sandifer has made 10 consecutive free throws dating back to Troy's game at Middle Tennessee
Up Next
Troy will take some time off for the holiday season but will be back in action on New Year's Day when they host App State to kickoff the Sun Belt Conference season. The Trojans will host the Mountaineers at 6 p.m. on Friday and again on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Follow TROY Women's Basketball
Social: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Join The Conversation: #OneTROY
Team Stats
MMA
TROY
FG%
.360
.471
3FG%
.333
.308
FT%
.875
.833
RB
37
50
TO
23
23
STL
14
16
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
8
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
/ Basketball (W)F
/ Basketball (W)F
/ Basketball (W)F
/ Basketball (W)G
/ Basketball (W)Ashley Beverly Kelley - Troy University Sports Hall of Fame
Monday, April 28
Underdogs Untold: Title Ticket Punched
Friday, April 04
Chanda Rigby WNIT Championship Press Conference
Friday, April 04
Chanda Rigby Postgame Press Conference - Illinois State
Thursday, April 03