Troy Extends Multiple Streaks in Blowout at Georgia State; Rigby Wins 200th Game

Saturday, January 7

Atlanta, Ga.

1 p.m.

Troy University

8-7,3-1Sun Belt

Georgia State

8-9,2-2Sun Belt

Troy

Georgia St.

Troy Extends Multiple Streaks in Blowout at Georgia State; Rigby Wins 200th Game

1/7/2023 3:32:00 PM | Basketball (W)

Box Score

By: Troy Athletics Communications

ATLANTA – Troy outscored Georgia State by 18 points in the second half as the Trojans won their third straight overall, seventh straight against the Panthers and seventh time in a row on the road in league play with an 81-58 victory Saturday afternoon at the GSU Convocation Center. The victory was the 200^th of Troy head coach Chanda Rigby's career with the Trojans, becoming just the second coach in program history to reach that plateau.

Troy (8-7, 3-1 SBC) scored 51 points in the second half, including 29 in the fourth quarter, to surpass the 75-point threshold for the eighth straight game, Troy's longest such streak since the 2015-16 season.

Makayia Hallmon scored a game-high 18 points to lead six Trojans in double-figure scoring as she hit 7-of-14 shots from the floor. In her second game back, Amber Leggett led Troy with eight rebounds in addition to 10 points, while Sharonica Hartsfield added 12 points, six rebounds, five steals and four assists.

The Trojans led 30-25 at the half thanks to a 12-0 run midway through the second quarter after the Panthers (8-9, 2-2) took a 4-point lead, 20-16, with 7:36 to play. The run was typical of the game for Troy, as four different Trojans hit buckets during the scoring spurt.

Georgia State turned the ball over 28 times thanks to the Trojans' high-pressure defense, which recorded a season-high 20 steals – five Trojans finished with three or more steals in the game. Additionally, Troy held Georgia State to just 35 percent shooting for the game, marking the fourth time in the last six games that the Trojans have held their opponent to 35 percent shooting or worse.

A pair of free throws pulled the Panthers to within two, 37-35, with 6:30 to play in the third quarter. The Trojans followed by scoring the game's next eight points in just over two minutes of game action to pull away for good.

Troy shot 42.6 percent as a team from the floor to improve to 7-0 on the year when shooting 38 percent or better from the floor. Tai'Sheka Porchia (11), Nia Daniel (10) and Ja'Mia Hollings (11) all finished in double-figures for the Trojans, while Zay Dyer led the Panthers with 12 points.

The Trojans return home next week for a pair of Sun Belt games hosting ULM on Thursday and Louisiana on Saturday.

Notable
• The Trojans have won 37 of their last 42 Sun Belt Conference games and 44 of their last 50 league games dating back to the 2019-20 season.

• Troy has held four of its last six opponents to less than 35 percent shooting from the floor and are 4-0 in those games; that came after the Trojans' first nine opponents shot 40 percent or better (4-5).

• Troy has scored 70-plus points in 13-of-15 games this season and 75-plus points in eight straight games.

• The Trojans made three 3-pointers in the game and are now 6-3 on the year when making five or fewer shots from beyond the arc.

• Chanda Rigby is 53-7 (.883) in her last 60 games vs. Sun Belt teams.

• The Trojans have recorded double-digit steals in a game nine times this season; Troy is 7-2 in those games.

• The Trojans have made 10-plus free throws in 13-of-15 games this season and 15-plus free throws in eight different contests.