Troy Makes Program History, Wins Sixth Straight Game in Process

Thursday, January 19

Huntington, W.Va.

5 p.m.

Troy University

11-7,6-1Sun Belt

Marshall

9-9,2-5Sun Belt

Troy

Marshall

Troy Makes Program History, Wins Sixth Straight Game in Process

1/19/2023 9:45:00 PM | Basketball (W)

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Troy hit a season-high 11 3-pointers and topped the 75-point mark in a program record 11^th straight game in an 87-77 victory at Marshall in Sun Belt action Thursday night at the Cam Henderson Center.

Troy (11-7, 6-1 SBC) outscored Marshall (9-9, 2-5) 27-11 in the third quarter, turning what was a 3-point advantage at the half, 40-37, into a 67-48 lead heading into the final quarter of play. The Trojans' victory, coupled with James Madison's loss to Georgia Southern, moves Troy into a three-way tie for first in the Sun Belt ahead of Saturday's meeting with the Dukes.

Ja'Mia Hollings led Troy with 19 points and nine rebounds; it was her fourth straight game in double-figures. Nia Daniel dropped in 16 points and Amber Leggett added 13 points and seven rebounds; Leggett has scored in double-figures in all five of her games since returning from retirement.

"I think that we're taking steps and growing up," head coach Chanda Rigby said. "Not only in holding leads at the end of the game but also the bench players are contributing more. We like to change our defenses a lot, but tonight we stuck with the man defense in the second half, and they did a great job."

Troy's streak of 75-plus point games is impressive, considering the competition that it has come against. Marshall entered the night fifth in the Sun Belt in points allowed (59.2), and three of the Trojans' other six Sun Belt opponents ranked in the top four in fewest points allowed (57.0), with Louisiana and Texas State ranked first at the time of the game.

The 11 3-pointers made by the Trojans is a staggering number considering that Troy was just 1-4 coming into the game when making six or more shots from beyond the arc; the only other victory was a 10-make night against UT-Martin way back on Nov. 10.

It's not only that Troy made a lot of shots from deep, it's that the Trojans hit on a high percentage connecting on 55 percent (11-of-20) of their attempts.

Daniel connected on 4-of-6 from 3-point range, Makayia Hallmon and Hollins each had two triples as the Trojans handed the Herd their fifth straight loss in what was the first meeting between the two schools.

Troy's defense once again stepped up, holding Marshall to just 36.8 percent shooting from the floor, including 29.4 percent (5-of-17) in the second half. The Trojans forced 18 turnovers and outrebounded the Herd by a whopping 21, including a 15-8 advantage on the offensive glass.

The Trojans looked as if they might run away with the game early, racing out to a 14-7 lead following a Hollings layup with 4:24 to play in the opening quarter. However, Marshall scored the game's next seven points to tie the game before the Trojans led 21-19 after the opening 10 minutes of play.

Marshall's Roshala Scott scored a game-high 29 points and Abby Beeman added 19. Filling out the rest of the stat sheet for the Trojans was Sharonica Hartsfield with six assists and nine points, while Jada Walton added nine points and three steals.

Notable
• Troy won its eighth straight Sun Belt Conference road game and has now won 15 of its last 16 conference games on the road.

• The Trojans have won 40 of their last 45 Sun Belt Conference games and 47 of their last 53 league games dating back to the 2019-20 season.

• Troy improved to 2-4 on the season when making six or more 3-pointers in a game; the Trojans are 9-3 on the year when making five or fewer 3-pointers in a game.

• Troy is winning by an average of 15.0 points during its current six-game winning streak.

• Chanda Rigby is 56-7 in her last 63 games vs. Sun Belt teams.

• Troy has outrebounded its opponents in 12-of-18 games this season and has a double-digit advantage in eight of those games.

• The Trojans have made 10-plus free throws in 16-of-18 games this season and 15-plus free throws in nine different contests.

• Troy has held five of its last six opponents to 38 percent shooting or worse; Marshall shot 38.1 percent.

• Troy has made 30-plus field goals in three straight games and in six of the last nine games; the Trojans have surrendered 30 field goals just three times in the last 10 games – both were overtime games.

• Six of Troy's last seven victories have come by double-digits, after the first four wins all came by single digits.