Porchia Hits Buzzer-Beater to Lift Troy Past Louisiana

Saturday, February 4

Lafayette, La.

2 p.m.

Troy University

15-8,10-2Sun Belt

Louisiana

14-10,8-4Sun Belt

OT 1

Troy

Louisiana

Porchia Hits Buzzer-Beater to Lift Troy Past Louisiana

2/4/2023 5:39:00 PM | Basketball (W)

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

LAFAYETTE, La. – Tai'Sheka Porchia hit a jumper with 1.8 seconds left in overtime to lift Troy past Louisiana, 81-80, Saturday afternoon at the Cajun Dome in Sun Belt Conference action. The Trojans rallied from down four with less than 30 seconds to play to maintain their spot at the top of the league standings.

Playing on her former court, Louisiana transfer Makayia Hallmon buried a 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining to pull Troy (15-8, 10-2 SBC) within one, 80-79, and Cara Wilson missed both free throws on the other end with 11 seconds to play. Hallmon brought the ball down the court, dished to Amber Leggett, who found Porchia for the game-winner.

Hallmon dropped 20 points against her former team, while Nia Daniel finished with 19 points, Jada Walton had 11 points and Porchia posted her second double-double of the week with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Ja'Mia Hollings had her double-double streak snapped at three games but finished with a game-high 11 rebounds to go with seven points.

Porchia's heroics wouldn't have been needed if the Cajuns (14-10, 8-4) hadn't rallied from an 11-point deficit in the game's final 83 seconds, including a 3-pointer by Sherry Porter with one second remaining, to force the second overtime matchup of the season between the two clubs.

Troy's win, coupled with results across the league on Saturday, means that the Trojans have a two-game advantage in the conference standings with three weeks of games remaining on the docket. Troy entered the week a game up on both Texas State and Louisiana and went into their gyms and came out with critical victories.

The Cajuns led for 4:44 seconds of the overtime period scoring the first points of the extra time and led until Porchia's game-winner gave the Trojans their 10th conference road win in the last 11 tries.

Two days after failing to hit from beyond the 3-point line, the deep ball played a crucial part in Troy's success on Saturday. The Trojans hit 7-of-14 triples in the game and reached the 30-field goal mark for the seventh time in the last eight games after making 31-of-71 shots, the 10th time in the last 15 games at 41 percent or better.

The Trojans were called for 30 fouls in the game, nine more than the Cajuns, resulting in a 15-mark difference at the free throw line. Troy made up for it with strong defense, holding Louisiana to just 32.9 percent shooting from the floor and 17.9 percent from beyond the arc.

Tamera Johnson led Louisiana with 23 points and seven rebounds, while Nubia Benedith added 16 points.

Troy returns home on Thursday for a doubleheader with the men's team. The women tip at 5:15 p.m. against Arkansas State, and the world-famous ZOOpersters will be in attendance.

Notable
• The Trojans have won 44 of their last 50 Sun Belt Conference games and 51 of their last 58 league games dating back to the 2019-20 season.

• Troy had made 33 3-pointers in its last four games entering Thursday night at Texas State; the Trojans went 0-for-13 from beyond the arc against the Bobcats but made seven 3-pointers against Louisiana on Saturday.

• Troy has won 10-of-11 and 17-of-19 Sun Belt games on the road following its victory Saturday afternoon.

• Troy has shot 41 percent or better from the floor in 10 of its last 15 games after connecting on 40 percent or fewer of its shots in the first eight games of the season. Troy hit 43.7 percent (31-of-71) on Saturday – the same exact totals from Thursday night.

• After outrebounding Louisiana, 49-47, Troy has outrebounded six of its last seven opponents; the one game the Trojans were outrebounded is their only loss in the last 11 games.

• Troy has held eight of its last 11 opponents to less than 29 percent shooting from beyond the 3-point line; the Cajuns shot just 17.9 percent from beyond the arc.