Troy Women’s Basketball Crowned the 41st Great Alaska Shootout Champions in Blowout Victory

Saturday, November 23

Anchorage, Alaska

11:30 p.m.

Troy University

3-4,0-0Sun Belt

North Dakota State

3-2,0-0Summit League

Troy

North Dakota St.

Troy Women’s Basketball Crowned the 41st Great Alaska Shootout Champions in Blowout Victory

11/24/2024 3:32:00 AM | Basketball (W)

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Troy women's basketball program, led by the tournament's Most Outstanding Player Shaulana Wagner and All-Tournament Team member Zay Dyer, are crowned champions of the 41^st Great Alaska Shootout on Saturday night with an 86-69 victory over North Dakota State in the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Trojans (3-4) join the likes of Stanford, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee and more as shootout champions as they blowout the Bisons (3-2) by outscoring them 51-33 in the second half.

Wagner was awarded the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after earning five points, seven rebounds, seven assists, one block and a steal. Meanwhile, Dyer received an all-tournament team nod with a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double. The difference maker of the championship game came via Emma Imevbore, who came off the bench for 22 minutes and produced season-highs in points (12), rebounds (11), blocks (2), steals (1) and assists (1).

Avery Koenen aimed to will the Bisons with a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double on 6-of-6 at the charity stripe. Abby Krzewinksi came off the bench for 13 points, three assists and six rebounds (five offensive). The third quarter saw the Bisons unravel as they shot 3-of-15 from the field and allowed 20 points in the paint by Troy to lose the game.

Empty 6-Point Swing
A technical and shooting foul on Troy gave North Dakota State four opportunities at the line and the ball with 4:17 remaining in the third. The Bisons Krzewinski missed all four opportunities at the line, and Miriley Simon missed the layup to come up empty on the critical possession.

Peguero took advantage as she drove into the lane, stopping and converting the 50-38 floater at the 6:19 mark. No. 1 continued her run as she stole the ball from Avery Koenen and found Leilani Guion. Guion drilled and saw Baez behind the arc. The Santo Domingo native took a dribble and pulled up for the 3-pointer, 53-38.

On the next possession, Baez came up with a second-straight steal and drove inside for her seventh point of the game, 55-38, with 3:06 left. The last three minutes saw Troy outscore the Bisons 8-7 to walk into the final 10 minutes with a 20-point advantage, 65-45.

North Dakota State started the quarter with a free throw from Krzewinksi, 65-46, but Wagner matched it at the 1:01 mark with a layup, and Khila Morris got her 10^th point at the charity stripe to reextend the lead, 68-46. Troy maintained from there as Adriana Jones and Imevbore put the finishing touches on an 86-69 victory with a triple and layup, respectively, to host the trophy.

Third Quarter Swing
The first 20 minutes couldn't have been tighter as the Trojans trailed due to a late triple from Abby Krzewinski, 36-35. North Dakota State stayed on top via the 3-point game with five makes, while Troy outrebounded the opposition 26-18 and went 6-of-7 at the charity stripe. However, Ashley Baez broke the floodgate for Troy as she launched the attack 0:08 into the third, taking the 37-36 lead.

An ill-advised pass attempt by Abby Graham got intercepted by Shaulana Wagner. After a deadball, Khila Morris inbounded it to Fortuna Ngnawo, who hit a side-step and the fadeaway bucket 0:30 in, 39-36. Wagner went on to convert a free throw, 40-36. Dyer continued the run when Wagner found her down low, and she converted, 42-36, at the 1:32 mark.

Avery Koenen from North Dakota State and Ngnawo / Dyer got on the board to make it an eight-point game, 46-38, with 6:36 remaining. Two minutes of scoreless play proceeded before Emma Imevbore scored her 10^th point on a tip-in layup, pushing the Trojan lead to 10, 48-38.

Head Coach Chanda Rigby
"It's been a great night and a great tournament in Alaska. This team truly came together tonight to win this championship. We played much smarter today and went on runs where we stayed in control. We're beyond proud to receive this trophy. I met the artist and his wife, which was a true honor. I can't wait to bring this trophy back to Troy. It's been an unbelievable experience, and I'm beyond happy because of what this tournament represents. This is a turning point for us. We took losses to great teams this year, so I'm thankful for this tournament, allowing us to come together. Big shoutout to Imevbore, Dyer and Wagner, who truly played amazingly throughout this tonight, particularly tonight, to get this championship."

8-of-8
The final game on Troy's eight-game road trip to open the season ends on Dec. 1 when it travels to R.W. Harrison HPER Complex in Itta Bena, Miss., for a date with Mississippi Valley State at 2 p.m.

Championship Numbers
• Imevbore secured season-highs in the first half alone with eight points, two blocks, six rebounds and an assist in 13 minutes. She finished with a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double.
• All but one Trojan ended the night in the scoring column for the second time (No. 24/25 Alabama).
• Troy dominated in the paint, outscoring the Bisons 56-28. They also led in fastbreak points, 16-2.
• Wagner earned the Most Outstanding Player of the Great Alaska Tournament by scoring 12.5 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
• The Trojans become the first Sun Belt Conference team to win the Great Alaska Shootout and 41^st ever.
• Dyer got the all-tournament team nod with 13.5 points, 10 rebounds, one block and two assists.