Troy University Athletics
Friday, January 15
Troy, Ala.
6 p.m.
Troy University
6-4,2-1Sun Belt
87
vs
70
Georgia Southern
6-6,2-3Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
Ga. Southern
23
8
12
27
70
Troy
14
18
29
26
87
Defense leads Troy to Victory Over Georgia Southern
1/15/2021 9:56:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – The Troy women's basketball team trailed Georgia Southern by 15 early in the first quarter on Friday, but a spark on the defensive end propelled the Trojans to an 87-70 win on opening night of their two-game series against the Eagles inside Trojan Arena.
The Trojans (6-4, 2-1 SBC) shot 42.7 percent (32-of-75) from the floor, but limited Georgia Southern (6-6, 2-3 SBC) to just 38 percent (27-of-70) from the field. Troy held its opponent to 70 points for the seventh time this season and the second-straight game. Three Trojans scored at least 15 points on Friday, led by Alexus Dye who had a team-high 17. Felmas Koranga and Tiyah Johnson each added 15.
"We came out really slow, they got up 23-8," head coach Chanda Rigby said. "I'm going to pass that off. We were a little game rusty, maybe not in rhythm since we were off last weekend but once we got going I think we went on a 53-20 run. It was sparked by rebounding and from there we were in our rhythm. We were pressing, we were aggressive and we were putting pressure on their defense in our transition."
How It Happened
After not playing last weekend due to Covid-19 issues within the Georgia State program, the Trojans came out flat on Friday, falling behind Georgia Southern 23-8 with 2:22 left in the first quarter.
Trailing by 15, Troy began to increase the pressure and started to turn Georgia Southern turnovers into points. The Trojans ended the first quarter scoring the final six points and then opened the second scoring the first four.
The second frame was really where Troy began to flex its muscles, forcing 11 turnovers, including two 3-second calls and a shot clock violation. The increased defensive pressure allowed Troy to turn the Eagles 11 turnovers into 10 points on their way to outscoring GS 18-8 in the quarter and going into the locker with a 32-31 advantage.
Coming out of the locker room Troy picked up right where they left off. The Trojans scored the first seven points of the third, including six from Tiyah Johnson, while holding Georgia Southern scoreless for the first two minutes, and ultimately outscoring the Eagles 29-12 in the third.
Leading 61-43 entering the final quarter, Troy had a comfortable lead before eventually earning its largest lead of the night at 19, which they achieved with 7:19 left in the fourth. Troy was outscored in the final frame 27-26 but Troy's 19 points advantage would be plenty as the Trojans walked away with the 87-70 win on Friday.
Who Stood Out
Alexus Dye recorded her eighth double-double of the season (17 points / 12 rebounds) and now ranks 3rd nationally for most double-doubles in the country while Felmas Koranga earned her third of the season (15 points / 11 rebounds). A pair of freshmen in Jelissa Reese and Janiah Ellis had solid games as well. Reese added four points and six big rebounds while Ellis scored 11 with nine coming from behind the arc.
Notables
• This was Troy's 16th straight win over Georgia Southern. The streak started on Dec. 9, 1996. The Trojans now lead the all-time series 16-2
• Chanda Rigby is now 12-0 all-time against the Eagles
• The Trojan's 15-point comeback was its largest since erasing a 15-ppint deficit last season at South Alabama on Feb. 29, 2020
• This was the second game this season that Troy has trailed for over 17 minutes and comeback to win
• Troy out-rebounded GS 50-45. They have won the rebounding battling in eight of their 10 games this season
• Sharonica Hartsfield had a team-high six assists. It's the sixth game this season that Hartsfield has had at least five dimes
Up Next
Troy and Georgia Southern will meet again on Saturday at 4 p.m. inside Trojan Arena.
Follow TROY Women's Basketball
Social: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Join The Conversation: #OneTROY
The Trojans (6-4, 2-1 SBC) shot 42.7 percent (32-of-75) from the floor, but limited Georgia Southern (6-6, 2-3 SBC) to just 38 percent (27-of-70) from the field. Troy held its opponent to 70 points for the seventh time this season and the second-straight game. Three Trojans scored at least 15 points on Friday, led by Alexus Dye who had a team-high 17. Felmas Koranga and Tiyah Johnson each added 15.
"We came out really slow, they got up 23-8," head coach Chanda Rigby said. "I'm going to pass that off. We were a little game rusty, maybe not in rhythm since we were off last weekend but once we got going I think we went on a 53-20 run. It was sparked by rebounding and from there we were in our rhythm. We were pressing, we were aggressive and we were putting pressure on their defense in our transition."
⏪ Let's rewind tonights 87-70 win over Georgia Southern#OneTROY⚔️🏀 pic.twitter.com/JSNGx9QZcF
— Troy Women's Basketball (@TroyTrojansWBB) January 16, 2021
How It Happened
After not playing last weekend due to Covid-19 issues within the Georgia State program, the Trojans came out flat on Friday, falling behind Georgia Southern 23-8 with 2:22 left in the first quarter.
Trailing by 15, Troy began to increase the pressure and started to turn Georgia Southern turnovers into points. The Trojans ended the first quarter scoring the final six points and then opened the second scoring the first four.
The second frame was really where Troy began to flex its muscles, forcing 11 turnovers, including two 3-second calls and a shot clock violation. The increased defensive pressure allowed Troy to turn the Eagles 11 turnovers into 10 points on their way to outscoring GS 18-8 in the quarter and going into the locker with a 32-31 advantage.
Coming out of the locker room Troy picked up right where they left off. The Trojans scored the first seven points of the third, including six from Tiyah Johnson, while holding Georgia Southern scoreless for the first two minutes, and ultimately outscoring the Eagles 29-12 in the third.
Leading 61-43 entering the final quarter, Troy had a comfortable lead before eventually earning its largest lead of the night at 19, which they achieved with 7:19 left in the fourth. Troy was outscored in the final frame 27-26 but Troy's 19 points advantage would be plenty as the Trojans walked away with the 87-70 win on Friday.
Who Stood Out
Alexus Dye recorded her eighth double-double of the season (17 points / 12 rebounds) and now ranks 3rd nationally for most double-doubles in the country while Felmas Koranga earned her third of the season (15 points / 11 rebounds). A pair of freshmen in Jelissa Reese and Janiah Ellis had solid games as well. Reese added four points and six big rebounds while Ellis scored 11 with nine coming from behind the arc.
Notables
• This was Troy's 16th straight win over Georgia Southern. The streak started on Dec. 9, 1996. The Trojans now lead the all-time series 16-2
• Chanda Rigby is now 12-0 all-time against the Eagles
• The Trojan's 15-point comeback was its largest since erasing a 15-ppint deficit last season at South Alabama on Feb. 29, 2020
• This was the second game this season that Troy has trailed for over 17 minutes and comeback to win
• Troy out-rebounded GS 50-45. They have won the rebounding battling in eight of their 10 games this season
• Sharonica Hartsfield had a team-high six assists. It's the sixth game this season that Hartsfield has had at least five dimes
Up Next
Troy and Georgia Southern will meet again on Saturday at 4 p.m. inside Trojan Arena.
Follow TROY Women's Basketball
Social: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Join The Conversation: #OneTROY
Team Stats
GS
TROY
FG%
.386
.427
3FG%
.333
.250
FT%
.700
.621
RB
45
50
TO
25
18
STL
9
13
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
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