Women’s Basketball Takes Win Streak, Best Division I Start to Tuscaloosa

Sunday, December 21

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

2 p.m.

Troy University

Alabama

Women’s Basketball Takes Win Streak, Best Division I Start to Tuscaloosa

12/20/2025 12:46:00 PM | Basketball (W)

Watch Live Listen Live Live Stats Game Notes (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Troy rides its best start in Division-I history and a seven-game win streak to the Coleman Coliseum for a date with undefeated Alabama on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m.

The Trojans (10-1) haven't lost since Kansas State on Nov. 18, 81-59. Since then, Troy claimed seven straight wins, including an in-season championship in the Resorts World Las Vegas Classic and the program's fifth-ever D-I win over an SEC program in Missouri, 100-82.

Game Information
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Coleman Coliseum
Matchup: Troy (10-1) vs. Alabama (13-0)
When: Sunday, Dec. 21 – 2 p.m.
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Stats: troytrojans.com/livestats

Tied Best Start All-Time
Troy went 29-of-36 at the free throw line to claim its first 1-0 start in league play since 2021-22 over Old Dominion, 81-59. The Trojans used a 17-0 run to end the second and open the third quarter to tie the all-time series at 2-2. Multiple Trojans claimed career-highs in free throws: Saniya Jackson (6), Zay Dyer (7), Fortuna Ngnawo (7). Ngnawo also claimed a career-high in rebounds with 17.

The victory tied the program's all-time best start at 10-1, dating back to the 1991-92 season. Troy has four players averaging double-figures, led by Ngnawo at 15.4. Dyer (13.1), Emani Jenkins (14.0) and Ashley Baez (10.0) round out the group. With her 38 3-pointers, Jenkins averages 3.5 per game to lead the SBC. She ranks fourth and second in the nation, respectively. Troy is 9-0 when shooting at least 40 percent from the field and 9-0 when leading at halftime, while outrebounding its opponents in 10 of 11 games.

After defeating Missouri 100-82 on Nov. 20, Troy earned its fifth-ever Division I win over an SEC program. Troy has three wins all-time over Alabama, with its last win coming on Jan. 10, 1979, 80-65. The teams last met Nov. 10, 2024, at Coleman Coliseum, where Alabama earned a 94-71 win. Despite the loss, Jenkins and Baez scored 11 and 14 points, respectively, combining to shoot 7-of-10 from 3-point range.

Scouting Alabama
The Crimson Tide has yet to lose in 2025-26, having key wins over Clemson, 72-48, and Minnesota, 63-58. Alabama dominated defensively, holding opponents to 33.5 percent shooting from the field and 29.6 percent from deep. On the offensive side, the Crimson Tide shoots 47.1 percent from the floor with a 37.1 percent mark from behind the arc. Essence Cody leads Alabama with 15.3 points and 5.9 rebounds on 61.3 percent shooting.

Notables
• Troy is 3-18 in the all-time series against Alabama, seeking its first win since Jan. 10, 1979, when it defeated Alabama 80-65.
• The Trojans search for their first win against Alabama in D-I history, earning their fifth-ever win over an SEC opponent in D-I history against Missouri on Nov. 20, 100-82. They have defeated an SEC opponent in back-to-back seasons (Missouri, Arkansas).
• Troy enters Sunday's matchup as the third-highest ranked team in total rebounds for D-I at 48.5.
• The last time these programs squared off was Nov. 10, 2024, when Alabama won 94-71. Despite the loss, Emani Jenkins (11) and Ashley Baez (14) finished in double-figures, combining for 7-of-10 from deep.
• The Trojans are off to their best start in Division I history (10-1) and best overall since 1991-92 (10-1).
• Zay Dyer leads the Sun Belt in defensive rebounds (8.1), offensive rebounds (4.3) and total rebounds (12.4), ranking ninth, eighth and second nationally, respectively.
• The Trojans rank fourth in the Mid-Major polls and 69^th in the NCAA Net Rankings.
• With her 38 3-pointers, Emani Jenkins averages 3.5 per game to lead the SBC. She ranks fourth and second in the nation, respectively.
• Zay Dyer sits second in career D-I rebounds and 10^th all-time at Troy with 736 – she is 32 from passing Donette McNair (767) for first in D-I rebounds.
• Ngnawo is 11-of-11 with games in double-figures after 15 points against Old Dominion. She's scored 10-plus points in her last 14 games, dating back to North Dakota State on March 31, 2025.
• Emani Jenkins ranks No. 1 in career D-I 3-point percentage and second all-time at 39.0. She also currently holds the best single-season shooting percentage from deep at 45.2.
• Fortuna Ngnawo seized a career-high in rebounds with 17 – her previous high was 13, twice.
• Emani Jenkins hits three 3-pointers for her seventh game with three or more triples. She's hit 33 in her last nine games.
• Jenkins' 10 threes against Oakwood tied Nya Robertson (Tennessee) for the most in a single game in 2025-26.
• Zay Dyer has scored in double-figures in 21 of her last 24 games.
• Emani Jenkins hit four threes in the first quarter against Oakwood for her sixth game with 3-plus 3-pointers. She's hit a triple in all but one game in 2025-26. Jenkins ended with 10 to break the all-time single-game record at Troy.
• Troy is 6-8 in SBC openers under head coach Chanda Rigby and started 1-0 league for the first time since 2021-22, when the team won the regular season title.
• Troy broke its single-game records for points (132), 3-pointers (20) and assists (36) in the win over Oakwood.
• Troy scored 132 points for the most in program history – the previous high was 131 against LaGrange on Dec. 7, 2020.
• Troy shattered its record for the most 3-pointers in a game (20) with the previous high being 16 against Jacksonville State on Dec. 14, 1995. They did it on 57.1 percent shooting from deep for head coach Chanda Rigby's 55^th game with 10-plus threes (49-6).
• With 1:30 remaining, Leilani Guion found Lana Koricanac for her fourth triple to set the program record for most assists in a game at 36 against Oakwood. The previous high was 35 against Chicago State on Jan. 20, 1997.
• Emani Jenkins converted all 10 of her baskets from deep for 31 points. She's the first Trojan with 30-plus points since Ja'Mia Hollings against FIU on March 25, 2024.
• Troy completed a 23-point comeback against Longwood for its largest since Alaska-Anchorage (20) on Nov. 22, 2024.
• For the third straight season, the Trojans were crowned champions of an in-season tournament: Austin Peay Christmas Classic (2023), Great Alaska Shootout (2024) and Resorts World Las Vegas Classic (2025).
• Zay Dyer joined the 1,000-point club against Missouri with 7:01 left in the second quarter on a jumper.
• Fortuna Ngnawo became the first 2025-26 Sun Belt Player of the Week on Nov. 11, averaging 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, four blocks and 1.5 steals in the first two games.
• 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.
• 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) in 2024-25.