Troy University Athletics
Monday, November 4
Buffalo, N.Y.
5 p.m.
Troy University
at
Buffalo
Women’s Basketball Opens 2024-25 Campaign at Buffalo
11/3/2024 10:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
BUFFALO, N.Y. – With a revamped roster, the Troy women's basketball program opens its 2024-25 season with a trip to Alumni Arena for a matchup with Buffalo on Monday at 5 p.m.
Monday night sees game one of the MAC-SBC Challenge as the programs meet for the first time since Feb. 6, 1997, where the Trojans triumphed, 87-80. Since head coach Chanda Rigby's arrival in 2012, Troy is 7-5 in its season openers.
Game Information
Location: Buffalo, N.Y. – Alumni Arena
The Matchup: Troy (0-0, 0-0 SBC) vs Buffalo (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
When: Monday, November 4 – 5 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Nine Newcomers, Three Returners, One New Coach
Troy returns three players from last year's roster that saw a historic WNIT Fab 4 run, including the first-ever postseason victory in program history over FIU in the second round, 92-62. Two Trojan returners earned preseason recognition, with Shaulana Wagner leading on the All-Sun Belt Second Team. Zay Dyer followed her on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team.
Leilani Guion is the third member of Troy's returners, meaning nine of its 12-women roster are newcomers. Statistically, the Trojans returned 18.8 percent of their scoring, 43.7 percent of assists and 26.2 percent of minutes. Despite that, the Trojans were voted to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference with two first-place votes.
Of the nine newcomers, four come off seasons with significant accolades. Khila Morris earned GSAC Player of the Year on 19.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and six assists, while Adriana Jones received ACCC Player of the Year, Fortuna Ngnawo got ACCAC Player of the Year and Jamirica Roberson grabbed 2023-24 ACCC First Team.
Off the court, Troy also made changes to the coaching staff. On Oct. 26, the program officially announced the hiring of Grace Daniels. She comes to Troy from Houston Christian, where she was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in 2023-24. Daniels also brings Sun Belt experience, having coached at the graduate assistant level for the Warhawks of ULM.
Balling in Buffalo
Despite facing Buffalo before, Monday marks the first meeting with both in their current conference and the first in the 21st century. The Bulls return five of their players from 2023-24. Those returners include three starters and 70 percent of the program's offensive production from last year's team that earned a WNIT berth and a runner-up spot in the MAC Tournament.
Kirsten Lewis-Williams returns for the Bulls after averaging 11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 46 percent from the field. Her abilities ranked her 12th in the MAC for scoring and 17th in rebounding, giving her Preseason All-MAC First Team. She's joined by Chellia Watson, who enters her fifth season. Watson was named Honorable Mention All-America and All-MAC First Team in 2023-24 on 23 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
Number for the New Season
• Grace Daniels becomes the newest member of the Trojans, being hired as the new assistant coach to pair alongside Stephanie Murphy on Oct. 26.
• Troy returners 18.8 percent of its scoring, 43.7 percent of assists, 26.4 percent of rebounds, 26.9 percent of blocks and 26.2 percent of minutes from the 2023-24 roster.
• Of the nine newcomers, three are products of Division-I, while one is Division-III and five are JUCO products.
• Wagner, one of Troy's three returners, comes off a season where she ranked sixth in program D-I history for total assists at 150 and ninth for assists per game at 4.9.
• 2023-24 saw the Trojans break the program record for most field goals made in a single season at 1,060 – they also broke the record for points (2,749) and field goal attempts (2,528).
• Last season, the Trojans ranked in the top two within the conference for assist/turnover ratio (1st– 1.09), rebounds (1st – 47.88), scoring (2nd – 80.9), defensive and offensive rebounds (2nd – 30.8, 17.1), rebound margin (2nd – 7.8) and assists (2nd – 15.4) – also led the nation in rebounding.
• The 2024-25 roster contains zero underclassmen, with seven as seniors and five as juniors.
• Khila Morris is the lone Trojans from the Empire State, hailing from the Bronx, N.Y.
• Troy is 7-5 in season openers under head coach Chanda Rigby.
• Over the summer, Troy went overseas to Costa Rica, where it finished 2-0 with 78-56 and 94-50 victories.
• Monday gives Troy the chance to go above .500 against the MAC conference, sitting at 4-4 (1-1 in 2023-24).
• The overall series against Buffalo sits at 3-5 as Troy eyes its first road win over the Bulls – sit at 0-4.
Monday night sees game one of the MAC-SBC Challenge as the programs meet for the first time since Feb. 6, 1997, where the Trojans triumphed, 87-80. Since head coach Chanda Rigby's arrival in 2012, Troy is 7-5 in its season openers.
Game Information
Location: Buffalo, N.Y. – Alumni Arena
The Matchup: Troy (0-0, 0-0 SBC) vs Buffalo (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
When: Monday, November 4 – 5 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Nine Newcomers, Three Returners, One New Coach
Troy returns three players from last year's roster that saw a historic WNIT Fab 4 run, including the first-ever postseason victory in program history over FIU in the second round, 92-62. Two Trojan returners earned preseason recognition, with Shaulana Wagner leading on the All-Sun Belt Second Team. Zay Dyer followed her on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team.
Leilani Guion is the third member of Troy's returners, meaning nine of its 12-women roster are newcomers. Statistically, the Trojans returned 18.8 percent of their scoring, 43.7 percent of assists and 26.2 percent of minutes. Despite that, the Trojans were voted to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference with two first-place votes.
Of the nine newcomers, four come off seasons with significant accolades. Khila Morris earned GSAC Player of the Year on 19.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and six assists, while Adriana Jones received ACCC Player of the Year, Fortuna Ngnawo got ACCAC Player of the Year and Jamirica Roberson grabbed 2023-24 ACCC First Team.
Off the court, Troy also made changes to the coaching staff. On Oct. 26, the program officially announced the hiring of Grace Daniels. She comes to Troy from Houston Christian, where she was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in 2023-24. Daniels also brings Sun Belt experience, having coached at the graduate assistant level for the Warhawks of ULM.
Balling in Buffalo
Despite facing Buffalo before, Monday marks the first meeting with both in their current conference and the first in the 21st century. The Bulls return five of their players from 2023-24. Those returners include three starters and 70 percent of the program's offensive production from last year's team that earned a WNIT berth and a runner-up spot in the MAC Tournament.
Kirsten Lewis-Williams returns for the Bulls after averaging 11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 46 percent from the field. Her abilities ranked her 12th in the MAC for scoring and 17th in rebounding, giving her Preseason All-MAC First Team. She's joined by Chellia Watson, who enters her fifth season. Watson was named Honorable Mention All-America and All-MAC First Team in 2023-24 on 23 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
Number for the New Season
• Grace Daniels becomes the newest member of the Trojans, being hired as the new assistant coach to pair alongside Stephanie Murphy on Oct. 26.
• Troy returners 18.8 percent of its scoring, 43.7 percent of assists, 26.4 percent of rebounds, 26.9 percent of blocks and 26.2 percent of minutes from the 2023-24 roster.
• Of the nine newcomers, three are products of Division-I, while one is Division-III and five are JUCO products.
• Wagner, one of Troy's three returners, comes off a season where she ranked sixth in program D-I history for total assists at 150 and ninth for assists per game at 4.9.
• 2023-24 saw the Trojans break the program record for most field goals made in a single season at 1,060 – they also broke the record for points (2,749) and field goal attempts (2,528).
• Last season, the Trojans ranked in the top two within the conference for assist/turnover ratio (1st– 1.09), rebounds (1st – 47.88), scoring (2nd – 80.9), defensive and offensive rebounds (2nd – 30.8, 17.1), rebound margin (2nd – 7.8) and assists (2nd – 15.4) – also led the nation in rebounding.
• The 2024-25 roster contains zero underclassmen, with seven as seniors and five as juniors.
• Khila Morris is the lone Trojans from the Empire State, hailing from the Bronx, N.Y.
• Troy is 7-5 in season openers under head coach Chanda Rigby.
• Over the summer, Troy went overseas to Costa Rica, where it finished 2-0 with 78-56 and 94-50 victories.
• Monday gives Troy the chance to go above .500 against the MAC conference, sitting at 4-4 (1-1 in 2023-24).
• The overall series against Buffalo sits at 3-5 as Troy eyes its first road win over the Bulls – sit at 0-4.
Players Mentioned
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/ Basketball (W)Ashley Beverly Kelley - Troy University Sports Hall of Fame
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Friday, April 04
Chanda Rigby WNIT Championship Press Conference
Friday, April 04
Chanda Rigby Postgame Press Conference - Illinois State
Thursday, April 03