Women’s Basketball Continues Homestand Against Mississippi Valley State

Thursday, November 6

Troy, Ala.

12 p.m.

Troy University

Mississippi Valley State

Tickets

Women’s Basketball Continues Homestand Against Mississippi Valley State

11/5/2025 10:20:00 AM | Basketball (W)

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – With game one in the books following a victory over Toledo on Monday, the Troy women's basketball team looks toward game two in Trojan Arena, seeking revenge against Mississippi Valley State at noon Thursday, Nov. 6.

The Trojans are 1-0 for the first time since the 2022-23 season as head coach Chanda Rigby improved to 12-2 in home openers and 8-6 in season openers. They look to avenge last season's 66-65 loss to the Devilettes (0-0) on Dec. 1, 2024, and retake the series lead, which is tied 3-3.

Game Information
Location: Troy, Ala. – Trojan Arena
Matchup: Troy vs. Mississippi Valley State
When: Thursday, November 6 – 12 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Stats: troytrojans.com/livestats

Season-Opening Domination
Troy's season opener was never in doubt. After the game was tied 4-4 with 7:30 left in the first quarter, the Trojans rolled to a 37-point victory over Toledo in the MAC-SBC Challenge. The second quarter saw Troy shoot 75 percent from the field and 6-of-8 from behind the arc to end the game shooting 46.7 percent from the field while holding the Rockets to 25.9.

Emani Jenkins (18), Fortuna Ngnawo (17), Zay Dyer (16), Ashley Baez (12) and Rachel Leggett (11) opened the game as Troy's starting five and excelled in the scoring column with all but 13 of the team's points. Together, they shot 29-of-52 from the field and converted all seven of the Trojans' triples.

Senior forward Ngnawo excelled on both sides of the court with her 16^th career game with 10-plus points at 17 – she also led the team at the charity stripe, going 5-of-8. Defensively, Ngnawo rejected a career-high four shots against Toledo for her first game with 3-plus blocks, joining Dyer as the two active Trojans with such a feat. Dyer's 16-point performance also marked the 50^th double-digit game in her Trojan career.

Thursday's matchup with Mississippi Valley State allows the Trojans to avenge losses from 2024-25 in back-to-back games. The Devilettes triumphed over the Trojans 66-65 last season to open the month of December, despite a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double from Dyer and 12 points from Baez.

Notables
• With her 16-point performance against Toledo, Zay Dyer earned her 50^th career Troy game with 10-plus points.
• Dyer's eight rebounds over Toledo bumped her into the top-10 for D-I career rebounds at 608.
• Rachel Leggett (11), Saniya Jackson (2), Shakirah Edwards (2) and Kamesha Moore (3) notched their first career points as Trojans in the win over Toledo.
• The Trojans are 3-3 against Mississippi Valley State after their three-game win streak was snapped last season, 66-65 – they look for their first win at home over the Devilettes (0-1).
• Troy had a perfect second quarter over Toledo as it shot 75 percent from the field on 16 attempts (14 made). The team also went 6-of-8 from behind the arc to hold a 19-point advantage at the break.
• Fortuna Ngnawo rejected a career-high four shots in the win over Toledo – her first game with 3-plus blocks to become the second active Trojan with such a feat.
• Rachel Leggett made her first career start as a Trojan (50^th career start in D-I) against Toledo and polished it with 11 points and six rebounds.
• With the victory over Toledo, Troy now sits 2-3 in the MAC-SBC Challenge with its first win in the season-opener of the challenge.
• Head coach Chanda Rigby improves to 12-2 in home openers and 8-6 in season openers to kick off her 14^th season after beating Toledo.
• All five of the Trojan starting five ended in double-figures in the season-opener via Emani Jenkins (18), Fortuna Ngnawo (17), Zay Dyer (16), Ashley Baez (12) and Rachel Leggett (11).
• With Dyer earning Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team honors, Troy has had a first-team preseason selection in four of the last five seasons.
• Troy's 13-player roster features five returners and eight newcomers: Detavia Salter, Saniya Jackson, Shakirah Edwards, Kamesha Moore, Jasmine Timmons, Lana Koricanac, Rachel Leggett and Marianah Achol.
• Despite adding four true freshmen, Troy remains experienced with eight upperclassmen — seven seniors and one junior.
• For the first time since the 2021-22 season, the Trojans' coaching staff remains unchanged with head coach Chanda Rigby, associate head coach Jennifer Graf, and assistant coaches Stephanie Murphy and Grace Daniels returning.
• The five returners accounted for 55.7% of the team's points, 50.3% of rebounds, 53.9% of steals, 40.5% of blocks and 35.1% of assists in 2024-25.
• Troy reached the WNIT Championship game last season, falling to Buffalo after a historic run.
• The Trojans led the nation in rebounds per game (49.05) for the seventh consecutive year and led the Sun Belt in scoring (80.1), blocks (4.7) and assists (15.4).