Troy Falls in Regular Season Opener

Saturday, November 11

Troy, Ala.

3:33 p.m.

Troy University

0-1,0-0Sun Belt

Ball State

2-0,0-0MAC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Ball St.	22	25	23	16	86
Troy	14	18	19	20	71

11/11/2023 8:16:00 PM | Basketball (W)

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – A quick start by Ball State in Trojan Arena Saturday afternoon resulted in a season-opening loss for the Troy women's basketball team 86-71.

The turnover bug struck the Trojans (0-1) in the first half when they totaled 20 compared to the Cardinals' (2-0) eight. The loss at home marks the second straight home-opener loss for the Trojans.

Despite the loss, Ja'Mia Hollings produced a near double-double in her senior debut, posting a team-high 18 points with nine rebounds. Zay Dyer matched her totals in rebounds while scoring 11 points in her Troy debut. Tai'Sheka Porchia and Shaulana Wagner also managed double-digit performances for 76 percent of the Troy points (54-of-71).

For the Cardinals, Madelyn Bischoff from deep made the difference with six triples for 22 points. The Cardinals shot 47.9 percent from the field and 41.7 from deep as a team.

Ball State Catches Fire Early
The game stayed tight through the early portions after Nia Daniel scored Troy's first points of the season on a triple from the corner to tie the game 3-3 1:39 into the first quarter.

The following five minutes didn't go the Trojans way, managing just one bucket from Wagner at the 3:39 mark while Ball State pushed their advantage to 16 off a Troy turnover and a made triple from Bischoff, 21-5.

Troy battled back before the first quarter buzzer rang, trimming the deficit to eight, 22-14, on buckets from Hollings, Dyer, and Leilani Augmon.

Wagner kept the battle coming for Troy, bringing Ball State's lead down to six at the free throw line 22-16 with 8:09 left in the second. Ball State proceeded to score 10 straight points, extending the lead back to 16 with 4:20 remaining in the half, 32-16. By the end of the half, the Cardinals had a 15-point advantage, 47-32, with 22 points off turnovers.

Never Gave Up
A 3-pointer from Bischoff with 3:33 left in the third saw the Cardinals reach their largest lead (21), 64-43. The MAC opponent seemed to have it in hand until 9:04 left in the fourth when Hollings nailed a triple for her 16^thpoint and brought the deficit down to 15, 71-56.

The Trojans kept matching as Wagner drilled a bucket by Bischoff with a triple of her own, 73-61. Hartsfield joined the party after hitting another triple to counter Nyla Hampton, 75-64, with 7:01 on the clock.

However, the final seven minutes didn't see the Cardinal lead falter any more, as Ball State outscored Troy 11-7 in the final stretch to win in the programs' first meeting, 86-71.

Head Coach Chanda Rigby
"It was a great game, though it did not go the way we wanted it to, but there are some positives in that we have a lot going on. I don't think we lost today because we don't have good enough players. They beat us in the turnover game and shot the ball well. We have a quick turnaround with Samford on Tuesday. We will return to work tomorrow to fix the mistakes and come out strong."

Home and Regular Season Opener Numbers
• The Trojans fixed their turnover problems in the second half, cutting the total down from 20 in the first to three in the second.
• Three Trojans scored in their debut, with Augmon and Dyer ending with 11 and Wagner with 15.
• Tonight's starting five consisted of four returners in Porchia, Hollings, Daniel and Hartsfield, while bringing in one newcomer in Wagner.
• Troy won the free throw line battle, outshooting Ball State 68.8 percent to 53.3.
• The Trojans outscored Ball State in the fourth quarter, 20-16, on 40 percent from the field.

Staying in Troy
The women's basketball team has a quick turnaround when Trojan Arena sees its first basketball doubleheader on Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. against Samford.