Walton’s Career Night Leads Troy to 89-84 Victory over Skyhawks

Thursday, November 10

Martin, Tenn.

6 p.m.

Troy University

2-0,0-0Sun Belt

UT Martin

0-1,0-0OVC

Troy

UT Martin

Walton’s Career Night Leads Troy to 89-84 Victory over Skyhawks

11/10/2022 8:52:00 PM | Basketball (W)

Box Score Game Highlights Box Score

By: Troy Athletics Communications

MARTIN, Tenn. – Thanks to a late barrage of 3-pointers and a career night from Jada Walton, the Troy University women's basketball team defeated UT Martin 89-84 on the road on Thursday night for Troy's second consecutive victory to open the season.

Troy starts the year 2-0 after taking the first two games of the season on the road. The Trojans defeated Samford in the season opener before besting the Skyhawks on Thursday in Tennessee.UT Martin, meanwhile, drops its first game of the season and stands at 0-1 early on in the year.

Walton registered a career-high in points and rebounds against the Skyhawks. The Texas Tech transfer bested her career-high in points that was set back in 2018 with an 18-point performance. The senior also tallied seven rebounds in the contest.

Newcomer Tai'Sheka Porchia netted her first-career double-double with a 14-point, 11-rebound effort against the Skyhawks. Sharonica Hartsfield was in the grill of just about every UT Martin player as she fell one steal shy of tying a school record with eight steals in one game. Hartsfield also added 10 assists in the contest.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Trojans found themselves up by four points with 4:03 left in the period. Makayia Hallmon began the barrage of 3-pointers by the Trojans to put the game away for Troy. Hallmon and Gabbi Cartagena combined to secure 3-pointers on three-straight possessions to push the Trojan lead to seven with less than three minutes remaining.

For good measure, Cartagena added her career-best fourth 3-pointer of the night with 1:05 left in the game to give the Trojans a 10-point lead that aided her team in closing out the Skyhawks at their home gym to start the season.

The two sides were evenly matched offensively to begin the game, as UT Martin found themselves with just a two-point lead with 3:52 remaining in the first. A late push from the Trojans saw Troy take a slim 18-17 lead after the first 10 minutes of action.

A quick start for the Trojans in the second quarter saw 3-pointers from Walton, and Jashanti Simmons push the Troy lead to 24-19 three minutes into the period. A late jumper from Hallmon elevated the Trojans to a one-point lead late, but the Skyhawks capitalized on two late free throws to take a one-point lead into the locker room at the half.

Troy and UT Martin were deadlocked for most of the third quarter as neither side gained any separation from their opponent. The Skyhawks were able to grab a four-point lead, marking the biggest advantage any side gained in the third. A late 3-pointer from Mary Delgado tied the game at 58 entering the last quarter.

The Trojans would explode for 31 points in the final frame of action. Troy would record six 3-pointers in the last 10 minutes of action to push their lead to as much as 14 late in the game. A quick 9-0 run from UT Martin with under a minute to play cut the Trojan lead down slightly, but not enough to capture a victory.

A west coast trip is on the agenda for the Trojans in their next game. Troy will fly to Los Angeles, California, for a Sunday afternoon matchup with UCLA, who are receiving votes in the latest national polls. The action against the PAC 12 opponent is slated to begin at 4 p.m.