Troy University Athletics
Saturday, January 16
Troy, Ala.
4 p.m.
Troy University
7-4,3-1Sun Belt
82
vs
69
Georgia Southern
6-7,2-4Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
Ga. Southern
7
16
24
22
69
Troy
11
28
18
25
82
Troy Weathers Late Game Rally, Holds of Georgia Southern
1/16/2021 8:07:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – The Troy women's basketball team saw its comfortable lead evaporate in the second-half, but withstood a late game rally by Georgia Southern to earn the 82-69 victory over the Eagles. It was Troy's 17th consecutive win over Georgia Southern dating back to 1996.
Troy (7-4, 3-1 SBC) shot 37 percent (23-of-71) from the field while Georgia Southern (6-7, 2-4 SBC) shot 36.6 percent (26-of-71) from the floor. The nearly identical shooting percentages were offset by the Trojans stingy defense that caused the Eagles to commit 26 turnovers, second-most this season. Troy was able to turn those turnovers into 26 points, the second most against a Division I team this season. The strong defensive effort start from the opening tip as Troy held GS scoreless for the first eight and a half minutes of the game.
"It's unbelievable, it a great feeling to have two wins in Trojan Arena this weekend," head coach Chanda Rigby said. "We are very thankful, we know that the team that wins the Sun Belt conference has to be able to put 2 wins together on the weekend so this was a good step for us."
How It Happened
A game that was well in hand ended closer than the score may indicate.
After giving up just 23 points in the first half and taking a 16-point lead into the locker room, the Trojans looked to be well on their way to a convincing win. Troy increased its lead to 20 by the midway point of the third quarter before Georgia Southern began to chip away at the deficit. Georgia Southern's A'Tyanna Gaulden, an Arkansas transfer, was a big reason for their late game run, scoring 15 of her team-high 22 points in the final 15 minutes of the game.
With the Eagles clawing all the way back to trim the Troy lead to just three, 60-57, with 8:13 left in the game, Troy senior Jasmine Robinson began to show flashes of the All-Sun Belt performer she is.
With all the momentum with the Eagles, Robinson began to take the game over, scoring nine straight for the Trojans including a dagger triple from the wing extended Troy's lead to nine.
After the Eagles trimmed the Trojan lead to five, Troy went on a 12-4 run to put the game out of reach. The Trojans ultimately closed the door on Georgia Southern from the free throw line, going 6-for-6 in the final minute, including four straight from Janiah Sandifer who has been lights out all season from the charity stripe.
Who Stood Out
Jasmine Robinson had her best game of the season, scoring 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting while going a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe. Eight of her 16 points were scored in a one-minute stretch late in the fourth quarter as Georgia Southern was making a comeback and had swung all the momentum in their favor. Robinson also had three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Quoting Coach Rigby
"We really work on it and so many times the deciding factor in a game is which team is in the bonus and so yesterday we didn't even commit a foul in the 4th quarter until the last 5 minutes in the game and that played a big part in it. In this game I got really nervous because we had them on the free throw line 4 minutes into the 4th quarter. On the other hand we got on the free throw line late in the quarter so the important thing there is we were able to make them, I am so proud of that 83%, like you said the highest free throw percentage we've had all year so hopefully that will stay steady."
Notables
• This was Troy's 17th straight win over Georgia Southern. The streak started on Dec. 9, 1996. The Trojans now lead the all-time series 17-2
• Chanda Rigby is now 13-0 all-time against the Eagles
• Troy was out-rebounded 51-48. It's the third time Troy has been out-rebounded this season but the first time it has won when being out-rebounded
• Sharonica Hartsfield and Emely Rosario tied for the team lead with three assists
• Dye's 16 rebounds are a season-high. She had 12 within the first 15 minutes of the game. She also recorded her eighth double-double of the season and ranks third nationally for most this season
• Felmas Koranga recorded her third double-double (11 points / 13 rebounds) and second-consecutive
• Janiah Sandifer recorded 13 points. It's the fourth time in the last five games that she has scored in double figures
• Tiyah Johnson scored 15 points for the second straight game. It's the seventh time this season that she has scored in double figures
• Troy shot t83 percent from the free throw line on 24-of-29 shooting. It was their third highest percentage of the season
Up Next
Troy will be back in Trojan Arena for one of the most anticipated games of the season. Last year's top two finishers in the Sun Belt Conference will meet on Friday at 6 p.m. and again on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Follow TROY Women's Basketball
Social: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Join The Conversation: #OneTROY
Troy (7-4, 3-1 SBC) shot 37 percent (23-of-71) from the field while Georgia Southern (6-7, 2-4 SBC) shot 36.6 percent (26-of-71) from the floor. The nearly identical shooting percentages were offset by the Trojans stingy defense that caused the Eagles to commit 26 turnovers, second-most this season. Troy was able to turn those turnovers into 26 points, the second most against a Division I team this season. The strong defensive effort start from the opening tip as Troy held GS scoreless for the first eight and a half minutes of the game.
"It's unbelievable, it a great feeling to have two wins in Trojan Arena this weekend," head coach Chanda Rigby said. "We are very thankful, we know that the team that wins the Sun Belt conference has to be able to put 2 wins together on the weekend so this was a good step for us."
⏪ Let's rewind our 82-69 win over Georgia Southern#OneTROY⚔️🏀 pic.twitter.com/EdTD9aUGGk
— Troy Women's Basketball (@TroyTrojansWBB) January 17, 2021
How It Happened
A game that was well in hand ended closer than the score may indicate.
After giving up just 23 points in the first half and taking a 16-point lead into the locker room, the Trojans looked to be well on their way to a convincing win. Troy increased its lead to 20 by the midway point of the third quarter before Georgia Southern began to chip away at the deficit. Georgia Southern's A'Tyanna Gaulden, an Arkansas transfer, was a big reason for their late game run, scoring 15 of her team-high 22 points in the final 15 minutes of the game.
With the Eagles clawing all the way back to trim the Troy lead to just three, 60-57, with 8:13 left in the game, Troy senior Jasmine Robinson began to show flashes of the All-Sun Belt performer she is.
With all the momentum with the Eagles, Robinson began to take the game over, scoring nine straight for the Trojans including a dagger triple from the wing extended Troy's lead to nine.
After the Eagles trimmed the Trojan lead to five, Troy went on a 12-4 run to put the game out of reach. The Trojans ultimately closed the door on Georgia Southern from the free throw line, going 6-for-6 in the final minute, including four straight from Janiah Sandifer who has been lights out all season from the charity stripe.
Who Stood Out
Jasmine Robinson had her best game of the season, scoring 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting while going a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe. Eight of her 16 points were scored in a one-minute stretch late in the fourth quarter as Georgia Southern was making a comeback and had swung all the momentum in their favor. Robinson also had three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Quoting Coach Rigby
"We really work on it and so many times the deciding factor in a game is which team is in the bonus and so yesterday we didn't even commit a foul in the 4th quarter until the last 5 minutes in the game and that played a big part in it. In this game I got really nervous because we had them on the free throw line 4 minutes into the 4th quarter. On the other hand we got on the free throw line late in the quarter so the important thing there is we were able to make them, I am so proud of that 83%, like you said the highest free throw percentage we've had all year so hopefully that will stay steady."
Notables
• This was Troy's 17th straight win over Georgia Southern. The streak started on Dec. 9, 1996. The Trojans now lead the all-time series 17-2
• Chanda Rigby is now 13-0 all-time against the Eagles
• Troy was out-rebounded 51-48. It's the third time Troy has been out-rebounded this season but the first time it has won when being out-rebounded
• Sharonica Hartsfield and Emely Rosario tied for the team lead with three assists
• Dye's 16 rebounds are a season-high. She had 12 within the first 15 minutes of the game. She also recorded her eighth double-double of the season and ranks third nationally for most this season
• Felmas Koranga recorded her third double-double (11 points / 13 rebounds) and second-consecutive
• Janiah Sandifer recorded 13 points. It's the fourth time in the last five games that she has scored in double figures
• Tiyah Johnson scored 15 points for the second straight game. It's the seventh time this season that she has scored in double figures
• Troy shot t83 percent from the free throw line on 24-of-29 shooting. It was their third highest percentage of the season
Up Next
Troy will be back in Trojan Arena for one of the most anticipated games of the season. Last year's top two finishers in the Sun Belt Conference will meet on Friday at 6 p.m. and again on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Follow TROY Women's Basketball
Social: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Join The Conversation: #OneTROY
Team Stats
GS
TROY
FG%
.366
.370
3FG%
.200
.200
FT%
.583
.828
RB
51
48
TO
26
14
STL
5
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
16
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
G
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/ 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