Troy University Athletics
Monday, March 25
Troy, Ala.
6 p.m.
Troy University
vs
FIU
Women’s Basketball Embarks on WNIT Journey Against FIU
3/24/2024 3:32:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – Hungry for its first-ever postseason victory in program history and redemption in the early Sun Belt Conference Tournament exit, Troy women's basketball opens the WNIT against FIU on Monday at 6 p.m. in Trojan Arena.
The Trojans (19-11, 15-3 SBC) seek their first-ever postseason victory in the first appearance since the WNIT in 2022 when they battled Alabama in Trojan Arena. The matchup sees former Sun Belt opponents battle for the first time since 2013 as the Panthers (21-11, 11-5 C-USA) are fresh off a first round win victory over Stetson.
Game Information
Location: Troy, Ala. – Trojan Arena
The Matchup: Troy (19-11, 15-3 SBC) vs FIU (21-11, 11-5 C-USA)
When: Monday, March 25 – 6 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Third WNIT Appearance
The Trojans have made seven postseason appearances and are poised to claim the first-ever win as they look for redemption of the early SBC Tournament exit at the hands of Louisiana, 67-65. Ja'Mia Hollings willed the Trojans despite the loss, grabbing her 12th double-double on 23 points and 12 rebounds. She also had two steals and block defensively.
Troy returns to nonconference play where they opened 0-6 but went 4-1 since, including back-to-back over Stephen F. Austin, 98-78, and New Mexico State, 81-66, to be crowned Austin Peay Christmas Classic and a win in the SBC-MAC Challenge over Bowling Green, 88-78, who also made the WNIT.
To win the WNIT, the Trojans must win five games from March 25 to April 3. They've won seven-plus on two occasions, which included nine straight through Sun Belt play and seven straight to end the regular season as the No. 2 team in the league.
The round two matchup sees Troy host its third WNIT game after inviting UAB in 2019 and Alabama in 2022. 2019's matchup against UAB saw the eight-highest attendance in Trojan Arena history for women's basketball. They must defeat the Panthers and end a seven game losing streak to the opposition.
Sunshine State
FIU's season saw it back-and-forth play but ended its C-USA season as the No. 2 seed heading into the tournament. Like Troy, they were upset by a lower seed for an early exit, falling to No. 6 New Mexico State 63-58. They redeemed themselves in the opening round of the WNIT on Thursday when they beat Stetson, 60-47, on a trio of double-digit performances from Tanajah Hayes (17), Kaliah Henderson (11) and Mya Kone (11).
The Panthers ranked in the top two for the C-USA in numerous categories with its best in bench points per game where they ranked 24th in the country and second in the league at 24.5 points per game. Hayes also led the league in steals with 2.3 per game which also ranked 57th in the country. She also ranked fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.36) and assists (3.8).
Postseason Stats
• Hollings made her 50th career start for Troy in the SBC Tournament where she erupted for 23 points, 12 rebounds, two steals and a block.
• Hallmon received All-Sun Belt Third Team honors for her third straight SBC nod, joining Tai'Sheka Porchia (First Team) and Ja'Mia Hollings (Second Team). The trio brought head coach Chanda Rigby's numbers to 26 for all-conference selections, and Porchia became her ninth first-team selection. Hallmon, Porchia and Hollings have combined for 2,591 points, 1,229 rebounds, 216 assists, 190 steals, 86 blocks and 38 double-doubles through 206 games (162 starts).
• The 3-point game hasn't been a staple of the Trojans in 2023-24 but the last two games, they've combined for 19-of-37 (51.4 percent), including a season-high 11 made threes against South Alabama to close the regular season.
• 15 conference wins for Troy marks the 10th straight season with 12-plus SBC victories, the fourth time with 15-plus.
• Troy is one win away from the eighth 20-plus win season in head coach Chanda Rigby's career and the first since the program won the SBC Tournament in 2021-22 at 24-9, 13-2 SBC.
• Porchia continues to lead the conference in offensive rebounds at 4.2 while ranking 14th in the nation.
• Troy reclaimed its crown as the leading rebound team in the nation and SBC with 47.63 per game – own the third most offensive (17.3) and 10th most defensive rebounds (30.4) in the country.
• Hollings is six made field goals away from joining the top 10 in a single season at 179. With her 6.0 field goals made per game, she could jump to 10th past Samantha Tomlinson (1997-98).
• On 177 free throw attempts, Hallmon converted 140 to sit fifth for Troy all-time and D-I history for career free throw percentage (79.1).
• Porchia sits fourth in career field goal percentage at 50.2, seventh in scoring average at 13.6 and eighth in rebound average at 7.6 for Troy D-I history – her field goal percentage also sits eighth all-time.
• Hollings surpassed Sky'Lunn Holmes with 267 rebounds to sit seventh for rebounds in a single season – sits 11 from jumping to fifth over Alexus Dye (278 – 2019-20).
• If the season ended today, Porchia would have shot the eighth-best field goal percentage in Troy D-I history for a single season at 52.4.
• Monday opens the third WNIT run for the Trojans as they look for their first-ever postseason victory – sit at 0-7 overall and 0-2 in the WNIT.
The Trojans (19-11, 15-3 SBC) seek their first-ever postseason victory in the first appearance since the WNIT in 2022 when they battled Alabama in Trojan Arena. The matchup sees former Sun Belt opponents battle for the first time since 2013 as the Panthers (21-11, 11-5 C-USA) are fresh off a first round win victory over Stetson.
Game Information
Location: Troy, Ala. – Trojan Arena
The Matchup: Troy (19-11, 15-3 SBC) vs FIU (21-11, 11-5 C-USA)
When: Monday, March 25 – 6 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Third WNIT Appearance
The Trojans have made seven postseason appearances and are poised to claim the first-ever win as they look for redemption of the early SBC Tournament exit at the hands of Louisiana, 67-65. Ja'Mia Hollings willed the Trojans despite the loss, grabbing her 12th double-double on 23 points and 12 rebounds. She also had two steals and block defensively.
Troy returns to nonconference play where they opened 0-6 but went 4-1 since, including back-to-back over Stephen F. Austin, 98-78, and New Mexico State, 81-66, to be crowned Austin Peay Christmas Classic and a win in the SBC-MAC Challenge over Bowling Green, 88-78, who also made the WNIT.
To win the WNIT, the Trojans must win five games from March 25 to April 3. They've won seven-plus on two occasions, which included nine straight through Sun Belt play and seven straight to end the regular season as the No. 2 team in the league.
The round two matchup sees Troy host its third WNIT game after inviting UAB in 2019 and Alabama in 2022. 2019's matchup against UAB saw the eight-highest attendance in Trojan Arena history for women's basketball. They must defeat the Panthers and end a seven game losing streak to the opposition.
Sunshine State
FIU's season saw it back-and-forth play but ended its C-USA season as the No. 2 seed heading into the tournament. Like Troy, they were upset by a lower seed for an early exit, falling to No. 6 New Mexico State 63-58. They redeemed themselves in the opening round of the WNIT on Thursday when they beat Stetson, 60-47, on a trio of double-digit performances from Tanajah Hayes (17), Kaliah Henderson (11) and Mya Kone (11).
The Panthers ranked in the top two for the C-USA in numerous categories with its best in bench points per game where they ranked 24th in the country and second in the league at 24.5 points per game. Hayes also led the league in steals with 2.3 per game which also ranked 57th in the country. She also ranked fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.36) and assists (3.8).
Postseason Stats
• Hollings made her 50th career start for Troy in the SBC Tournament where she erupted for 23 points, 12 rebounds, two steals and a block.
• Hallmon received All-Sun Belt Third Team honors for her third straight SBC nod, joining Tai'Sheka Porchia (First Team) and Ja'Mia Hollings (Second Team). The trio brought head coach Chanda Rigby's numbers to 26 for all-conference selections, and Porchia became her ninth first-team selection. Hallmon, Porchia and Hollings have combined for 2,591 points, 1,229 rebounds, 216 assists, 190 steals, 86 blocks and 38 double-doubles through 206 games (162 starts).
• The 3-point game hasn't been a staple of the Trojans in 2023-24 but the last two games, they've combined for 19-of-37 (51.4 percent), including a season-high 11 made threes against South Alabama to close the regular season.
• 15 conference wins for Troy marks the 10th straight season with 12-plus SBC victories, the fourth time with 15-plus.
• Troy is one win away from the eighth 20-plus win season in head coach Chanda Rigby's career and the first since the program won the SBC Tournament in 2021-22 at 24-9, 13-2 SBC.
• Porchia continues to lead the conference in offensive rebounds at 4.2 while ranking 14th in the nation.
• Troy reclaimed its crown as the leading rebound team in the nation and SBC with 47.63 per game – own the third most offensive (17.3) and 10th most defensive rebounds (30.4) in the country.
• Hollings is six made field goals away from joining the top 10 in a single season at 179. With her 6.0 field goals made per game, she could jump to 10th past Samantha Tomlinson (1997-98).
• On 177 free throw attempts, Hallmon converted 140 to sit fifth for Troy all-time and D-I history for career free throw percentage (79.1).
• Porchia sits fourth in career field goal percentage at 50.2, seventh in scoring average at 13.6 and eighth in rebound average at 7.6 for Troy D-I history – her field goal percentage also sits eighth all-time.
• Hollings surpassed Sky'Lunn Holmes with 267 rebounds to sit seventh for rebounds in a single season – sits 11 from jumping to fifth over Alexus Dye (278 – 2019-20).
• If the season ended today, Porchia would have shot the eighth-best field goal percentage in Troy D-I history for a single season at 52.4.
• Monday opens the third WNIT run for the Trojans as they look for their first-ever postseason victory – sit at 0-7 overall and 0-2 in the WNIT.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Basketball (W)
F
/ Basketball (W)Ashley Beverly Kelley - Troy University Sports Hall of Fame
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