Women's Basketball Earns Championship Game Berth with win over App State

Sunday, March 7

Pensacola, Fla.

11 a.m.

Troy University

21-5,15-2Sun Belt

Appalachian State

15-12,10-8Sun Belt

Appalachian St.

Troy

Women's Basketball Earns Championship Game Berth with win over App State

3/7/2021 3:22:00 PM | Basketball (W)

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Troy Athletics Communications

PENSACOLA, Fla. – For the third time since 2016, the Troy women's basketball team will be playing for a Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship after defeating Appalachian State 66-63 on Sunday in the Pensacola Bay Center Arena.

The Trojans found themselves in familiar territory with a lead early, but in a fight late. Within the first five minutes of the contest Troy (21-5) had a 13-0 lead and seemingly couldn't miss from the field, connecting on their first four field goal attempts. The early advantage proved crucial for Troy as App State (15-12), led by Pre Stanley who scored 21 points in the first half, erased Troy's 13-point lead and forced a 38 all score at halftime.

Similar to the start of the game, Troy looked to be in a groove coming out of the locker room before App State and Troy began to trade buckets. The big difference in the first and second halves was the Trojans defense against Pre Stanley, who Troy limited to just two total points in the third quarter. The game began to swing in the Trojans favor in the final minute of the third. After Tyasia Moore knocked down two big free throws, Felmas Koranga earned a big rebound and put back followed by a steal from Sharonica Hartsfield that led to a buzzer beating offensive rebound and score from Tiyah Johnson to give Troy a 10-point advantage going into the final frame.

After Troy scored 24 third quarter points, the Trojans couldn't get anything going in the fourth. Troy scored four total points in the fourth with its first bucket coming with under six minutes to play while their final score came with just over four minutes left in the game. App State scored the final seven points, but Troy played solid defense late and was able to hold on for a three-point victory.

Four Trojans scored in double figures, led by Alexus Dye who scored 20, while Koranga, Johnson and Jasmine Robinson who each scored 10. Dye, who recorded her 21st double-double of the season, had a team-high 13 rebounds. As a team, Troy shot 39 percent from the field and 38 percent from behind-the-arc. App State was led by Stanley who posted game-highs in both points scored (29) and rebounds (14). The Mountaineers shot 35 percent from the field and 30 percent from three.

Who Stood Out
For the eighth time this season, Alexus Dye led the Trojans in scoring with 20 points while recording double-digit rebounds for the 22nd time this season with 13. Dye recorded her NCAA leading 21st double-double of the season. She was a perfect 2-for-2 from the charity stripe and had one assist, one steal and one blocked shot on Sunday.

Quoting Coach Rigby
On the overall game vs App State
"Tiyah Johnson said it best, it's hard to play somebody five times, especially with the style that we play. [App State] was really used to our pace. We only got four fast break points and that has to be a record [low] for us this year. App State did a great job getting back and slowing us up. We got off less than 75 shots and we strive to get 100 shots a game so that affected us."

On Alexus Dye stepping in a big game
"She is so even keel and a quite leader. She doesn't get too high and doesn't get too low. But I have seen her in this tournament kind of stepping it up to another gear and at times hustling harder. She understands championship tournaments and she is doing that for us in the game. If it wasn't for such a great effort by this team, she would probably have had a monster night like she did last night. But App State did a good job of managing her, but she still got her double-double and maybe the best I've coached."

Notables
• Troy improved to 14-2 all-time vs App State and 1-0 against them in the Sun Belt Tournament
• The Trojans are now 4-1 against App State this season with four straight wins over the Mountaineers
• Since 2016, Troy has earned a 10-2 SBC Tournament record
• Head coach Chanda Rigby is now 11-5 all-time in the SBC Tournament
• As the No. 1 seed in a conference tournament, Troy is now 5-0
• Troy is 2-0 in Sun Belt Championship games and 3-0 in program history. They won the Mid-Continent (now Summit League) Tournament Title in 1997
• Troy was outrebounded by App State 43-44. It was just the third time Troy has been outrebounded this season
• Five different Trojans recorded three assists: Robinson, Johnson, Moore, Emely Rosario and Janiah Sandifer

Up Next
With the win, Troy advances to the Sun Belt Championship Game on Monday at 1 p.m. in the Pensacola
Bay Center Arena. Troy and Louisiana, both top seeds from their respective divisions, will meet in the championship game for second time since 2017. In the Sun Belt Tournament, Troy owns a 2-1 record over Louisiana. The game will be broadcast live on national tv on ESPNU.

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