Troy University Athletics
Troy University
11-8,8-1Sun Belt
Arkansas State
10-9,4-5Sun Belt
Record-Breaking Attendance Sees Hallmon, Porchia Heroics Down Arkansas State in Overtime Thriller
1/27/2024 6:45:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – In front of the largest attendance in women's basketball history at Trojan Arena (4,211), a 35-point, 17-rebound double-double by Tai'Sheka Porchia and three clutch triples from Makayia Hallmon in overtime propelled Troy over Arkansas State, 91-84, in a thriller on Saturday afternoon.
At the midway point of Sun Belt play, the Trojans (11-8, 8-1 SBC) remain in second place as they tied for the fourth-longest conference win streak at eight. Meanwhile, the Red Wolves (10-9, 4-5 SBC) drop below .500 in conference play.
Porchia dominated in over 39 minutes of play, posting the most points by a Trojan this season with a career-high of 35. In overtime, Hallmon exploded, scoring 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting and three 3-pointers to finish with 23 and a season-high seven rebounds. Additionally, Ja'Mia Hollings finished with her second straight double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Izzy Higginbottom did all she could with a 34-point night on 12-of-31 from the field and a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe. No. 23 also managed five rebounds, a team-high eight assists and three steals. Annaliese Griffin joined her efforts with 16 points and seven rebounds. However, 3-of-8 shooting in overtime cost the Red Wolves the game.
Hallmon Heroics
The score tied 75-75, as both teams headed into overtime. Hallmon had been solid all night with 12 points but began to erupt just 0:19 into extra time as she hit the jumper, 77-75, to strike first.
A second-chance bucket by Lauryn Pendleton tied the score again, 77-77, before Hallmon launched her first triple of overtime, 80-77, with 3:47 left. She kept the pedal down after a pair of free throws from Higginbottom. After missing her first attempt, Shaulana Wagner swung in for the offensive rebound and Hallmon finished the job from deep, 83-79 – 2:48 remaining.
Higginbottom continued to will Arkansas State on a second-chance lay-in but, instead, was met by back-to-back buckets from Porchia down low to secure a six-point advantage, 87-81, with 1:11 left.
Griffin breathed some life into Arkansas State with a 3-pointer 0:10 later, 87-84, but Hallmon took all hope away as she drilled the dagger with 0:33 left on her third triple of overtime, 90-84. Porchia managed one more free throw to end the game with a career-high 35 points, 91-84.
Secure Extra Time
Arkansas State opened the fourth quarter down 63-56 and quickly flipped the script via a Higginbottom and-one 0:18 in, 63-59. She kept the run going, drilling a triple with 9:17 left before Mailyn Wilkerson gave the Red Wolves their first lead, 64-63, at the 1:06 mark.
Besides one tie with 8:31 left, 64-64, Arkansas State led for most of the final quarter, ballooning its lead to five, 71-66, at the 6:17 mark after a jumper by Higginbottom.
At the 6:38 mark, Porchia brought a crowd of 4,211 to their feet and kept them there until the final buzzer with a second-chance and-one lay-in followed by a fastbreak bucket to tie the game, 71-71 – 2:23 left on the clock.
The Red Wolves retook the lead at the charity stripe via Higginbottom and had a chance to make it a two-possession game. But Sharonica Hartsfield locked Higginbottom down, forcing the turnover and creating the fastbreak finish for Porchia, 73-73 – 0:30 left. Nia Daniel nearly secured the victory for Troy on a lay-in with 0:11 left, but a last-second bucket by Pendleton would send it to overtime, 75-75.
Head Coach Chanda Rigby
"Amazing night in Trojan Arena. Obviously, we won a thriller in overtime, but I want to first thank each and every person that was in the stands today. When we were down and retook the lead, everyone was on their feet and screaming. The fans' energy transferred to us, and we felt like we couldn't lose. Makayia Hallmon is a confident person. It was all Tai'Sheka for a while, but Jennifer Graf made the call to trust her with that ball at the end of the game and she was clutch. It's a testament to her that she can be struggling but still have the confidence to go out there and hit that shot."
Eight in a Row
• Porchia's 35 points on 15-of-27 shooting marked season-highs for both total points and made field goals in a single game for Troy – also marked a career-high.
• The Trojans redeemed themselves to hit .500 in overtime games this season (1-1), having previously lost to JMU, 90-89, on Dec. 31, 2023.
• A seven-rebound game saw Hallmon hit a season-high – previously had four at Texas State.
• Troy's shooting in overtime was nearly perfect to outscore the Red Wolves, 16-9, shooting 75 percent from the field and 100 percent from deep.
• All five starters for Troy finished the night with 5-plus rebounds – outrebounded Arkansas State 62-48.
• For the eighth time in 2023-24, Wagner dished out 5-plus assists with a team-high of six.
United in Cardinal
Troy's next stop sits in Monroe, La., where the team battles ULM on Feb. 1 in the Fant Ewing Coliseum.
