Troy University Athletics
Trio of Trojans Receive Preseason All-Conference Nods, Troy Ranks Second in Preseason Coaches Poll
10/16/2023 10:10:00 AM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – The Sun Belt Conference announced Monday morning that the Troy women's basketball team, led by head coach Chanda Rigby, sits second in the league in the Preseason Coaches Poll. Additionally, the team sees Makayia Hallmon, Ja'Mia Hollings and Tai'Sheka Porchia receive Preseason All-Sun Belt nods.
"Considering that there are 14 teams in the Sun Belt, and only 15 players get the preseason all-conference nod, it is remarkable for any one team to get three players on it," Rigby said. "There are so many really good players in our league this year. What an honor to have three players from Troy occupy this list."
Hallmon leads the Trojans with an All-Sun Belt First Team nod for the preseason, extending the team's streak of four straight years with a player on the first team. Meanwhile, Hollings and Porchia join the All-Sun Belt Second Team, marking the most Trojans on the preseason ballot since 2021-22 at three.
At 5-3, Hallmon returns for her senior season after earning second team after 2022-23. The Coushatta, La. native started 29-of-30 games for 25.7 minutes to lead the Trojans with 15 points on 37.1 percent from the field – ranked eighth in the SBC. She peaked with a career-high 33-point performance on 14-of-25 from the field at James Madison en route to 12 straight games in double figures to end the season. 'Mae-Mae' remains an offensive threat on multiple levels, ending 2022-23 ranked 11th in the league in free throw shooting at 78.2 percent.
A 2022-23 season where Porchia averaged 12.4 points on 47.8 percent from the field and 7.2 rebounds to rank 16th and 11th in the conference, respectively, propels her to second team. She earned All-Sun Belt Third Team in 2022-23 while being awarded Sun Belt Player of the Week and NCAA Starting Five after averaging 20 points and 13.5 rebounds and hitting the game-winner with 1.8 seconds left in overtime to defeat Louisiana (81-80). Porchia rejected 18 shots and scored in double-figures on 21 occasions to prove an all-around threat.
Hollings joins Porchia on the second team after also being named to the 2022-23 All-Sun Belt Third Team, Sun Belt Player of the Week and NCAA Starting Five. The 6-2 forward averaged 12.7 points (14th in SBC), 8.5 rebounds (second in SBC) and 0.8 blocks (ninth in SBC) over 29 games and 21 starts. Her ability to dominate shined through after producing a 20-20 game with 23 points and 20 rebounds against South Alabama. Overall, Hollings had nine double-doubles, 17 double-digit and five 15-plus rebound performances.
As a unit, the Trojans finish second in the Preseason Coaches Polls, receiving three first-place votes – eighth straight season Troy sits in the top three. Troy enters 2023-24 after ranking first in the SBC in points (83.3), rebounds (50.9), steals (11.6) and offensive rebounds (21.6). They also ranked seventh in the nation in bench points per game at 28.5 and 18th in turnovers forced at 20.1. The roster sees eight returners with five critical acquisitions from the transfer portal, including two from SBC foes Arkansas State (Leilani Augmon) and Georgia State (Zay Dyer).
2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Domonique Davis, Southern Miss
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Domonique Davis, Southern Miss
Terren Ward, Georgia Southern [SR | G | Jesup, Ga.]
Izzy Higginbottom, Arkansas State [JR | G | Batesville, Ark.]
Makayia Hallmon, Troy [SR | G | Coushatta, La.]
Roshala Scott, Marshall
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-SO | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Ja'Mia Hollings, Troy [SR | F | West Point, Miss.]
Lanay Wheaton, Louisiana
Kseniia Kozlova, James Madison [R-JR | C | Moscow, Russia]
Tai'Sheka Porchia, Troy [SR | F | Camden, Ark.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Deja Richardson, Coastal Carolina [GR | G | Kernersville, N.C.]
Emily Carver, App State [JR | G | Asheville, N.C]
Daisha Bradford, ULM [SR | G | Mobile, Ala.]
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State [JR | G | Melbourne, Fla.]
Kelsey Thompson, South Alabama [SO | G | Mobile, Ala.]
2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (9) - 186
2. Troy (3) - 177
3. Southern Miss (1) - 159
4. Old Dominion - 149
5. Georgia Southern (1) - 131
6. Louisiana - 117
7. Texas State - 116
8. Arkansas State - 87
9. Marshall - 85
10. Coastal Carolina - 72
11. ULM - 71
12. App State - 54
13. Georgia State - 46
14. South Alabama - 20
"Considering that there are 14 teams in the Sun Belt, and only 15 players get the preseason all-conference nod, it is remarkable for any one team to get three players on it," Rigby said. "There are so many really good players in our league this year. What an honor to have three players from Troy occupy this list."
Hallmon leads the Trojans with an All-Sun Belt First Team nod for the preseason, extending the team's streak of four straight years with a player on the first team. Meanwhile, Hollings and Porchia join the All-Sun Belt Second Team, marking the most Trojans on the preseason ballot since 2021-22 at three.
At 5-3, Hallmon returns for her senior season after earning second team after 2022-23. The Coushatta, La. native started 29-of-30 games for 25.7 minutes to lead the Trojans with 15 points on 37.1 percent from the field – ranked eighth in the SBC. She peaked with a career-high 33-point performance on 14-of-25 from the field at James Madison en route to 12 straight games in double figures to end the season. 'Mae-Mae' remains an offensive threat on multiple levels, ending 2022-23 ranked 11th in the league in free throw shooting at 78.2 percent.
A 2022-23 season where Porchia averaged 12.4 points on 47.8 percent from the field and 7.2 rebounds to rank 16th and 11th in the conference, respectively, propels her to second team. She earned All-Sun Belt Third Team in 2022-23 while being awarded Sun Belt Player of the Week and NCAA Starting Five after averaging 20 points and 13.5 rebounds and hitting the game-winner with 1.8 seconds left in overtime to defeat Louisiana (81-80). Porchia rejected 18 shots and scored in double-figures on 21 occasions to prove an all-around threat.
Hollings joins Porchia on the second team after also being named to the 2022-23 All-Sun Belt Third Team, Sun Belt Player of the Week and NCAA Starting Five. The 6-2 forward averaged 12.7 points (14th in SBC), 8.5 rebounds (second in SBC) and 0.8 blocks (ninth in SBC) over 29 games and 21 starts. Her ability to dominate shined through after producing a 20-20 game with 23 points and 20 rebounds against South Alabama. Overall, Hollings had nine double-doubles, 17 double-digit and five 15-plus rebound performances.
As a unit, the Trojans finish second in the Preseason Coaches Polls, receiving three first-place votes – eighth straight season Troy sits in the top three. Troy enters 2023-24 after ranking first in the SBC in points (83.3), rebounds (50.9), steals (11.6) and offensive rebounds (21.6). They also ranked seventh in the nation in bench points per game at 28.5 and 18th in turnovers forced at 20.1. The roster sees eight returners with five critical acquisitions from the transfer portal, including two from SBC foes Arkansas State (Leilani Augmon) and Georgia State (Zay Dyer).
2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Domonique Davis, Southern Miss
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Domonique Davis, Southern Miss
Terren Ward, Georgia Southern [SR | G | Jesup, Ga.]
Izzy Higginbottom, Arkansas State [JR | G | Batesville, Ark.]
Makayia Hallmon, Troy [SR | G | Coushatta, La.]
Roshala Scott, Marshall
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-SO | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Ja'Mia Hollings, Troy [SR | F | West Point, Miss.]
Lanay Wheaton, Louisiana
Kseniia Kozlova, James Madison [R-JR | C | Moscow, Russia]
Tai'Sheka Porchia, Troy [SR | F | Camden, Ark.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Deja Richardson, Coastal Carolina [GR | G | Kernersville, N.C.]
Emily Carver, App State [JR | G | Asheville, N.C]
Daisha Bradford, ULM [SR | G | Mobile, Ala.]
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State [JR | G | Melbourne, Fla.]
Kelsey Thompson, South Alabama [SO | G | Mobile, Ala.]
2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (9) - 186
2. Troy (3) - 177
3. Southern Miss (1) - 159
4. Old Dominion - 149
5. Georgia Southern (1) - 131
6. Louisiana - 117
7. Texas State - 116
8. Arkansas State - 87
9. Marshall - 85
10. Coastal Carolina - 72
11. ULM - 71
12. App State - 54
13. Georgia State - 46
14. South Alabama - 20
Players Mentioned
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