Troy University Athletics
Sunday, November 19
Knoxville, Tenn.
1 p.m.
Troy University
at
Tennessee
Women’s Basketball Travels to Take on No. 15 Tennessee
11/18/2023 10:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – In search of avenging its 0-2 start on Sunday afternoon, the Troy women's basketball program travels to No. 15 Tennessee for a non-conference showdown at the Thompson-Boling Arena. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
Troy (0-2) enters its matchup with Tennessee (2-1) searching for a couple of firsts, including the first win over the Volunteers – 0-3 before Sunday – in program history and the first win over a ranked opponent. Head coach Chanda Rigby enters with two Southeastern Conference victories under her belt, which include a 71-54 victory at Ole Miss (Dec. 19, 2018) and 73-66 against Mississippi State (Dec. 18, 2021).
Game Information
Location: Knoxville, Tenn. – Thompson-Boling Arena
The Matchup: Troy (0-2, 0-0 SBC) vs. No. 15 Tennessee (2-1, 0-0 SEC)
When: Sunday, November 19 – 1 p.m.
Watch: SEC Network +
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Defensive Grudge Match
Troy enters Sunday on its first 0-2 start since 2014-15 with Rigby. Luckily, that season, the Trojans went on to finish 20-11, 15-5 SBC and battle for the SBC Championship. Both losses at home saw Troy dominate the boards, ranking in the top 100 in D-I for rebound margin (plus-9.5), offensive rebounds (15) and defensive rebounds (28.5).
Tuesday's loss against Samford saw four Trojans finish in double figures and Ja'Mia Hollings leading the way with 17 points on 8-of-19 from the field – added 12 rebounds. Tai'Sheka Porchia joined her in the double-digit rebound category, marking the first double-double of the year for both. Shaulana Wagner continued her brilliance in a Troy uniform with her second straight 10-plus point game, while Gabbi Cartagena recorded her first double-digit game since facing UT-Martin on Nov. 10, 2022.
Entering the second half down 28-21, the Trojans battled back throughout the third and beginning of the fourth quarter. They even took the lead with 5:13 left in the third off a Cartagena steal, which resulted in Sharonica Hartsfield dishing one off to Leilani Guion for a deep triple, 49-48. Unfortunately, Samford matched Troy late and went 6-for-6 at the line in the final 1:47 to secure the victory, 65-61.
Despite the loss, Troy outscored Samford in 3-of-4 quarters, 56-51. Remove the second quarter and the Trojans shot just under the Bulldogs at 39.1 to 37.5 compared to 42.6 to 30.2, respectively. The Trojans also improved their turnover numbers, limiting them to 15 instead of Samford's 18 – Troy scored 14 points off turnovers.
Lady Volunteers
After the most recent polls, the Volunteers dropped to No. 15 following a 92-91 loss to Florida State and an 84-74 overtime victory over in-state rival Memphis. The turnover bug hit Tennessee against Memphis to cause the upset alert, committing 24 to the Tigers' 18. Fortunately for the Volunteers, Memphis shot 2-of-14 in overtime to falter.
The player to watch is Rickea Jackson, who was named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List on Tuesday. In Jackson's two seasons with Tennessee, she leads the team and ranks second among SEC players, scoring 22 points. Her stats include shooting 47.2 percent from the field, 87.5 percent from the free throw line and three assists per game.
Tennessee matches Troy in its identity at the boards, ranking 11th through three games in the NCAA in rebound margin at plus-19. The Volunteers average 50 rebounds as a team, with Jackson leading the way (12). Behind her is Jillian Hollingshead at eight per game, combined with 8.3 points and 1.3 blocks.
Knoxville Numbers
• Rigby enters Sunday with two SEC victories (71-54 – Ole Miss – Dec. 19, 2018, 73-66 – Mississippi State – Dec. 18, 2021), holding a 2-19 record.
• Felmas Koranga, Hartsfield and Hollings were members of the 2021-22 team that holds the program's last power-five victory, 73-66, against Mississippi State on Dec. 18, 2021. Koranga led the Trojans in scoring with 23 points on 10-of-14 from the field with nine rebounds to boost. Hartsfield managed four points and two rebounds, while Hollings had four rebounds.
• Troy looks to avoid its first 0-3 start since Rigby arrived in Troy in 2012. The Trojans last opened 0-3 in 2011-12, where they finished 2-26, 1-15 SBC.
• Hollings and Porchia combined for 27 points and 24 rebounds as both players earned their first double-double on the season – first time since they did it at ULM on Feb. 11, 2023.
• A 17-point, 12-rebound performance by No. 11 marked her 10th career double-double – earned a team-high nine in 2022-23.
• Cartagena exploded on the offensive end with her first double-digit performance since UT-Martin on Nov. 10, 2022, and the fifth of her career.
• Through the first two games of 2023-24, Hollings has paced the Troy offense, topping the scoring charts with 18 (Ball State) and 17 (Samford).
Troy (0-2) enters its matchup with Tennessee (2-1) searching for a couple of firsts, including the first win over the Volunteers – 0-3 before Sunday – in program history and the first win over a ranked opponent. Head coach Chanda Rigby enters with two Southeastern Conference victories under her belt, which include a 71-54 victory at Ole Miss (Dec. 19, 2018) and 73-66 against Mississippi State (Dec. 18, 2021).
Game Information
Location: Knoxville, Tenn. – Thompson-Boling Arena
The Matchup: Troy (0-2, 0-0 SBC) vs. No. 15 Tennessee (2-1, 0-0 SEC)
When: Sunday, November 19 – 1 p.m.
Watch: SEC Network +
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Defensive Grudge Match
Troy enters Sunday on its first 0-2 start since 2014-15 with Rigby. Luckily, that season, the Trojans went on to finish 20-11, 15-5 SBC and battle for the SBC Championship. Both losses at home saw Troy dominate the boards, ranking in the top 100 in D-I for rebound margin (plus-9.5), offensive rebounds (15) and defensive rebounds (28.5).
Tuesday's loss against Samford saw four Trojans finish in double figures and Ja'Mia Hollings leading the way with 17 points on 8-of-19 from the field – added 12 rebounds. Tai'Sheka Porchia joined her in the double-digit rebound category, marking the first double-double of the year for both. Shaulana Wagner continued her brilliance in a Troy uniform with her second straight 10-plus point game, while Gabbi Cartagena recorded her first double-digit game since facing UT-Martin on Nov. 10, 2022.
Entering the second half down 28-21, the Trojans battled back throughout the third and beginning of the fourth quarter. They even took the lead with 5:13 left in the third off a Cartagena steal, which resulted in Sharonica Hartsfield dishing one off to Leilani Guion for a deep triple, 49-48. Unfortunately, Samford matched Troy late and went 6-for-6 at the line in the final 1:47 to secure the victory, 65-61.
Despite the loss, Troy outscored Samford in 3-of-4 quarters, 56-51. Remove the second quarter and the Trojans shot just under the Bulldogs at 39.1 to 37.5 compared to 42.6 to 30.2, respectively. The Trojans also improved their turnover numbers, limiting them to 15 instead of Samford's 18 – Troy scored 14 points off turnovers.
Lady Volunteers
After the most recent polls, the Volunteers dropped to No. 15 following a 92-91 loss to Florida State and an 84-74 overtime victory over in-state rival Memphis. The turnover bug hit Tennessee against Memphis to cause the upset alert, committing 24 to the Tigers' 18. Fortunately for the Volunteers, Memphis shot 2-of-14 in overtime to falter.
The player to watch is Rickea Jackson, who was named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List on Tuesday. In Jackson's two seasons with Tennessee, she leads the team and ranks second among SEC players, scoring 22 points. Her stats include shooting 47.2 percent from the field, 87.5 percent from the free throw line and three assists per game.
Tennessee matches Troy in its identity at the boards, ranking 11th through three games in the NCAA in rebound margin at plus-19. The Volunteers average 50 rebounds as a team, with Jackson leading the way (12). Behind her is Jillian Hollingshead at eight per game, combined with 8.3 points and 1.3 blocks.
Knoxville Numbers
• Rigby enters Sunday with two SEC victories (71-54 – Ole Miss – Dec. 19, 2018, 73-66 – Mississippi State – Dec. 18, 2021), holding a 2-19 record.
• Felmas Koranga, Hartsfield and Hollings were members of the 2021-22 team that holds the program's last power-five victory, 73-66, against Mississippi State on Dec. 18, 2021. Koranga led the Trojans in scoring with 23 points on 10-of-14 from the field with nine rebounds to boost. Hartsfield managed four points and two rebounds, while Hollings had four rebounds.
• Troy looks to avoid its first 0-3 start since Rigby arrived in Troy in 2012. The Trojans last opened 0-3 in 2011-12, where they finished 2-26, 1-15 SBC.
• Hollings and Porchia combined for 27 points and 24 rebounds as both players earned their first double-double on the season – first time since they did it at ULM on Feb. 11, 2023.
• A 17-point, 12-rebound performance by No. 11 marked her 10th career double-double – earned a team-high nine in 2022-23.
• Cartagena exploded on the offensive end with her first double-digit performance since UT-Martin on Nov. 10, 2022, and the fifth of her career.
• Through the first two games of 2023-24, Hollings has paced the Troy offense, topping the scoring charts with 18 (Ball State) and 17 (Samford).
Players Mentioned
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