Troy University Athletics
Trio of Trojans Earn All-Sun Belt for Women’s Basketball
3/4/2024 1:00:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – Led by Tai'Sheka Porchia on the All-Sun Belt First Team and followed by Ja'Mia Hollings (All-Sun Belt Second Team) and Makayia Hallmon (All-Sun Belt Third Team), the Troy women's basketball team secures three all-sun belt nods to lead the Sun Belt Conference, the league announced Monday afternoon.
"In a fourteen-team conference, and only fifteen all-conference positions available, it is quite a feat to have three players selected from a single team," head coach Chanda Rigby said. "I'm really proud of Tai, Stix, and Mae Mae. I'm thankful that their hard work and determination are honored by being selected to the Sun Belt All-Conference Team."
Porchia dominated for the Trojans as the team's leading scorer through 28 starts on 15.2 points – ranked seventh in the SBC – to receive All-Sun Belt First Team. She also shot the third-highest field goal percentage in the SBC and 57th nationally at 52.5. Her season shooting the ball currently sits as the eighth-best field goal percentage in a single season in Troy D-I history. The Camden, Ark. native is also unstoppable in the rebound category, sitting in the top 20 nationally in offensive rebounds throughout 2023-24 at 4.3 – led SBC and ranks 13th nationally. Overall, she totaled 8.1 rebounds as the league's fifth-best for nine double-doubles. Combine the 14th-best free throw shooting percentage (74.4), the 21st-most steals (1.4) and Porchia had an unparalleled season.
Hollings controlled the overall rebound game for the Trojans and the conference, posting 10.3 through SBC play to be the lone player in the league to average a double-double. In the scoring column, 'Stixs' averaged 14.6 points to post 22 double-digit games and 11 double-doubles. She scored 20-plus in back-to-back games against Bowling Green (28) and Texas State (26) on a combined 23-of-32 – 28 against Bowling Green was a career-high. Where the West Point native stood among the rest was defensive, with the 11th-most steals (1.7) and 12th-most blocks (0.7), including 14 multi-steal games for All-Sun Belt Second Team.
Hallmon wrapped up her Trojan campaign with her third straight All-Sun Belt nod (All-Sun Belt Third Team), averaging 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and a steal over 26 starts. No. 3 caught fire early when she opened the season with 13 double-digit scoring games, including a 30-point performance against New Mexico State on 12-of-19 from the field. When the season ended, she had 21 games with 10-plus points and five with 20-plus. Her scoring numbers ranked 13th in the conference, with the 13th-best field goal percentage of 36.1. Hallmon was also automatic from the charity stripe and deep, ranking seventh in free throw percentage at 79.3 and scoring 1.3 3-pointers through league play.
The three players move head coach Chanda Rigby's totals to 26 for all-conference selections, with Porchia becoming the ninth first-team selection in her Troy tenure.
The trio leads the Trojans on Friday at 7:30 p.m. when they battle Louisiana or Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
2024 Sun Belt Women's Basketball End-of-Year Awards
Coach of the Year: Kim Caldwell, Marshall
Freshman of the Year: Crystal Henderson, Georgia State [FR | G | Marietta, Ga.]
Newcomer of the Year: Daisha Bradford, ULM [SR | G | Mobile, Ala.]
Player of the Year: Abby Beeman, Marshall [GR | G | Ridgeley, W.Va.]
Defensive Player of the Year: Kaye Clark, Old Dominion [GR | G | Milwaukee, Wis.]
Sixth Woman of the Year: Katlyn Manuel, ULM [JR | F | Lawtell, La.]
2024 Sun Belt Women's Basketball All-Conference Teams
First Team
Abby Beeman, Marshall [GR | G | Ridgeley, W.Va.]
Izzy Higginbottom, Arkansas State [JR | G | Batesville, Ark.]
Tai'Sheka Porchia, Troy [SR | F | Camden, Ark.]
Terren Ward, Georgia Southern [SR | G/F | Jesup, Ga.]
Domonique Davis, Southern Miss [SR | G | DeRidder, La.]
Second Team
Daisha Bradford, ULM [SR | G | Mobile, Ala.]
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison [R-SO | G | Birdsboro, Pa.]
Faith Alston, App State [SR | G | Centerville, Va.]
Ja'Mia Hollings, Troy [SR | F | West Point, Miss.]
Kseniia Kozlova, James Madison [R-JR | C | Moscow, Russia]
Third Team
Breanna Campbell, Marshall [SR | G | Largo, Fla.]
Makayia Hallmon, Troy [SR | G | Coushatta, La.] En'Dya Buford, Old Dominion [SR | G | Memphis, Tenn.]
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State [JR | G | Melbourne, Fla.]
Melyia Grayson, Southern Miss [R-JR | C | Hattiesburg, Miss.]
