Women’s Basketball Takes Opening-Day Thriller, 66-62

Monday, November 7

Birmingham, Ala.

4:30 p.m.

Troy University

1-0,0-0Sun Belt

Samford

0-1,0-0SoCon

Troy

Samford

Photo by: Chris Davis

Women’s Basketball Takes Opening-Day Thriller, 66-62

11/7/2022 7:24:00 PM | Basketball (W)

Box Score Postgame Press Conference Gallery 1 Game Highlights Photo Gallery

By: Troy Athletics Communications

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After a slow start to the contest that included just nine made shots in the first half, the Troy University women's basketball team outrebounded Samford 66-40 to take the opening-day contest 66-62 at the Pete Hanna Center on Monday afternoon.

The Trojans take the first game of the season for the fourth straight year, and they are now 14-10 against Samford. Troy also secures its fourth-straight win over Samford and improves the record at the Pete Hanna Center to 6-5 all-time.

Nine players made their Troy debut on Monday and Louisiana transfer Makayia Hallmon led all Trojans in scoring in her first game as a Trojan. She would go on to record 15 points and add five rebounds in the win against Samford.

Felmas Koranga continued her stellar career at Troy with a solid opening-night performance. The senior led the Trojans in rebounding, tallying 14 boards while adding an additional eight points.

Tai'Sheka Porchia had a standout performance against the Bulldogs, finishing second on the squad in rebounding with nine while adding nine points and two steals.

The Trojans out-rebounded Samford 66-40, including 39 offensive rebounds to the Bulldog's nine. Troy saw 25 of its 66 points come off the bench, and the Trojans capitalized in the paint, scoring 34 down low.

Troy got off to a sluggish start in the first quarter against Samford as the Bulldogs took the game's first seven points. A Porchia layup secured Troy's first two points of the season, and it sparked a 15-0 run to take a 15-7 lead against the Bulldogs. Troy would go into the second quarter leading by four.

The Trojans struggled to shoot the ball in the second quarter, but rebounding kept Troy in the contest all night. A 3-pointer from Hallmon stopped Samford's quick run to begin the period, but a 3-pointer from rookie Shaniah Nunn at the 6:24 mark would be the last bucket at the half from Troy as Samford led 25-23 at the break.

A Ke'Ajia Williams layup would put the Trojans ahead in the third quarter, as it pushed the lead to 37-31 over Samford. The Bulldogs would shoot back with a pair of scores to take a 40-39 lead, but the Trojans ended the third quarter with the last six points to take a 45-40 lead.

An early push from Samford in the fourth quarter tied the game at 50 with 7:15 to go in the last period. A Porchia jumper gave the Trojans a four-point lead late in the contest, but again, the lead was erased late in the game.

With 35 seconds in the game, Samford took its last lead of the night at 59-58. A pair of clutch free throws from Koranga gave Troy a one-point lead with 17 seconds remaining. On the following inbounds play, Sharonica Hartsfield and the Trojan defense stole the inbound, and the ensuing free throws would put the game away for Troy.

The Trojans will play the second of a seven-game road trip to begin the season on Thursday when they travel to Martin, Tenn., to play UT-Martin. The action against the Skyhawks is slated to begin at 6 p.m.