Troy University Athletics
Troy University
6-8,3-1Sun Belt
Louisiana
5-8,1-3Sun Belt
Offensive Onslaught Propels Troy Over Louisiana; Sets Record for Largest Win Over Sun Belt Opponent
1/10/2024 9:30:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – A 55.2 percent clip from the Troy women's basketball team pushed it over Louisiana in the largest victory over a Sun Belt opponent in program history at 46 points, 90-44, on Wednesday night in Trojan Arena.
The third straight victory for Troy (6-8, 3-1 SBC) also marked the largest SBC margin of victory since it defeated Coastal Carolina by 45 on Jan. 22, 2021. For Louisiana (5-8, 1-3 SBC), a second straight conference loss hits them as the program falls to Troy for the ninth time in the last 11 meetings.
Zay Dyer came off the bench, quietly putting together a season-high 18 points and nine rebounds to lead the Trojans as Tai'Sheka Porchia tallied her fourth double-double of 2023-24. For the 11th consecutive game, Makayia Hallmon found her way into double-figures with 12. But from behind the arc, Nia Daniel was showing out with three triples in the third quarter to end with 15.
Louisiana couldn't get anything going through four quarters as zero players ended in double-digits. Tamera Johnson and Uniyah Franklin had eight points to lead the Ragin' Cajuns. Combined with 30.6 percent shooting from the field, 12.5 percent from deep, and 30.8 percent from the charity stripe, Louisiana couldn't compete.
79-31
Quarter No. 1 saw Troy trailing 13-11 after struggling from the field at a 5-of-15 clip. However, Porchia got the final say with 1:25 left when she took the assist down low from Ja'Mia Hollings and dropped the layup.
The following 30 minutes saw the Trojans outscore Louisiana 79-31 on a combined 61.5 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from deep to secure the 46-point victory.
From the moment the second quarter began, Troy had control when Dyer drew the foul 0:11 in to spark a 16-0 run. The run saw points from Dyer, Porchia, Shaulana Wagner, Daniel and Hollings. 'Stixxs' (No. 11) put the exclamation mark on the run as she grabbed the offensive board and put back up the lay-in, 27-13, at the 4:29 mark.
Ashlyn Jones ended Troy's run at the free throw line when she went 1-of-2. That solo free throw launched a 7-0 run for Louisiana to put them back into the ballgame, 27-20, with 3:16 left in the quarter.
However, Troy's defense didn't allow ULL to score again in the second as, offensively, it would end the half on a 13-0 run. The run was started by a Hallmon floater with 3:06 left, 29-20, and ended with a pair of free throws by Porchia, 40-20 – 0:20 left.
ULL struck first in the second half with a triple by Brandi Williams just 0:20 in to cut the deficit to 17, 40-23. Both sides traded points, with Troy having a 20-point advantage after a Williams lay-in for ULL at the 2:09 mark.
The next 2:21 saw a complete takeover by Daniel as she drilled her first three, 48-25, at the 2:19 mark. A little over a minute later, she grabbed the defensive rebound and after a five-second sprint down the court, Wagner found Daniel again from behind the arc for triple No. 2, 51-25. Wagner got in on the scoring after Hallmon swiped the ball from Lanay Wheaton and dished it to No. 13 for the bucket, 53-25. That brief pause ended with 5:30 left in the quarter as Hallmon dished her second assist of the run and found Daniel from the top for her third triple, 56-25, in less than three minutes.
Troy's lead never dipped below 29 points from that point and it would hit the historic mark with 0:19 remaining as Dyer hit her seventh bucket to solidify the 46-point win, 90-44.
Head Coach Chanda Rigby
"It was a great night in Trojan Arena. It was a doubleheader event, and I think we made some new fans tonight with how we played. I'm so proud of this team. They were locked in on defense, and we shot the ball really well. It felt like we were shooting at a record pace. I'm proud of the bench. They scored 36 points, came off the bench and helped. Individually, Zay Dyer led us with 18 points. We recruited all these girls because we have the confidence in them to score and be efficient. Now, it feels like they've settled down and don't think. Instead, they just let it become natural and you can notice the difference."
Three Straight Wins
• The 46-point win over Louisiana marked Troy's largest margin of victory over a Sun Belt opponent – previous high was 45 points set on Jan. 22, 2021, against Coastal (104-59).
• Off the bench, Zay Dyer led Troy in scoring for the first time in her career with 18 points on 7-of-12 from the field – also seized nine rebounds.
• Troy spread the wealth with 10 of its 11 players that checked in scoring at least one bucket – four players ended in double-figures – won the battle in bench points at 36-17.
• Troy shot 55.2 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from deep – both marked season highs.
• With a 17-point, 10-rebound performance by Porchia, she recorded her fourth double-double of the season and the first without Ja'Mia Hollings.
• The Trojans dominated nearly every statistical category over Louisiana, winning the battle of rebounds (52-29), points from turnovers (21-9), points in the paint (42-24), second chance points (15-7), fastbreak points (22-4), bench points (36-17), steals (10-5), assists (16-8) and much more.
Doubleheader Saturday
The doubleheader events continue on Saturday when the Troy women's basketball team plays James Madison at 2 p.m. in Trojan Arena.
