Hollings' 20-20 Effort Leads Troy Past South Alabama

Thursday, January 26

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

12-8,7-2Sun Belt

South Alabama

5-15,1-8Sun Belt

South Alabama

Troy

Hollings' 20-20 Effort Leads Troy Past South Alabama

1/26/2023 9:09:00 PM | Basketball (W)

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Ja'Mia Hollings recorded Troy's second 20-20 game in the program's Division I history to lead the Trojans to an 81-62 victory over rival South Alabama Thursday night in Trojan Arena. The victory was Troy's seventh straight in the series and moved the Trojans back into first place in the Sun Belt Conference standings.

Hollings scored 23 points and pulled down a career-best 20 rebounds to become the first Trojan with a 20-20 game since Caitlyn Ramirez had 25 points and 22 rebounds against Arkansas State in the 2017 Sun Belt Tournament. Hollings hit 9-of-16 shots, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, for her second 20-point game of the season.

Troy (12-8, 7-2 SBC) outscored South Alabama (5-15, 1-8) by 13 points in the third quarter to turn a 5-point halftime lead into a comfortable 62-44 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. The Trojans extended their program record of 75-point scoring games to 13 straight with the 81-point outburst in what was their sixth straight win over the Jags in Trojan Arena.

Makayia Hallmon added 14 points for Chanda Rigby's squad, while Shaniah Nunn scored a career-best 12 points off the bench. Kiana Anderson scored 13 points and Michiyah Simmons added 12 to lead South Alabama.

Troy's win, coupled with Coastal Carolina's surprising 15-point victory over James Madison, moved the Trojans back into a tie with the Dukes at the top of the conference standings.

The Trojans got off to a sluggish start and saw the game tied at 12-all with just under four minutes to play in the opening quarter. Then, sparked by a Hollins rebound and jumper, Troy went on a 9-0 run and eventually carried a 21-14 lead after the opening 10 minutes.

Hollings' 20 rebounds were just part of the story on the glass where the Trojans dominated the stat line as they outrebounded the Jags by 24; six Trojans finished the game with five or more rebounds. Additionally, Troy pulled down 19 offensive boards, which resulted in 17 second-chance points compared to South Alabama's three.

Troy held South Alabama to just 28.6 percent shooting from the floor, the second-lowest output this season by an opponent and the lowest by a Division I opponent. The Trojans have now held six of their last eight opponents to 38.1 percent shooting or worse.

Another home game is on the docket for Troy on Saturday when Georgia Southern (13-5, 5-4) comes to town for a 4 p.m. battle.

• The Trojans have won 41 of their last 47 Sun Belt Conference games and 48 of their last 55 league games dating back to the 2019-20 season.
• Troy is 38-5 in its last 43 Sun Belt Conference home games since the 2018-19 seasons.
• Troy has won seven straight games against its in-state rival, South Alabama, and the Trojans have won seven straight home games against the Jags. Troy has not lost to USA in Trojan Arena since 2016, and the Jags' last win in the series came in overtime at the 2019 Sun Belt Tournament.
• Troy improved to 3-5 in games when it makes six or more 3-pointers; the Trojans are 9-3 on the year when making five or fewer 3-pointers in a game. The Trojans hit 8-of-28 from beyond the arc against the Jags.
• Chanda Rigby is 57-8 in her last 65 games vs. Sun Belt teams.
• Troy is an impressive 41-7 inside the friendly confines of Trojan Arena over the last four seasons.
• The Trojans have recorded double-digit steals in a game 13 times this season; Troy is 10-3 in those games. Conversely, Troy has surrendered double-digit steals just four times this season. Troy finished with 11 steals in the game compared to eight by South Alabama.
• Troy hit 29-of-77 shots from the floor, snapping a streak of four straight games with 30-plus field goals made, while Troy's 37.7 field goal percentage snapped a streak of five straight games shooting 40 percent or better.
• Troy has made 25 3-pointers in the last three games after combining for 20 in the previous five games.
• Troy's 63 rebounds mark the fourth time this season it has reached the 60-rebound threshold; the Trojans had 62 in an overtime loss to Belmont, 64 in a double-overtime loss to Tulane and 66 in the season opener at Samford.