Troy University Athletics
Friday, February 28
Troy, Ala.
7 p.m.
Troy University
vs
Arkansas State
Bid for No. 2 Seed, SBC Tournament Semifinal Ticket Up for Grabs in Troy-Arkansas State Showdown
2/27/2025 4:54:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – Thirty regular season games have led to Friday at 7 p.m. for the regular season finale in Trojan Arena. The winner of Troy-Arkansas State clinches the No. 2 seed and a bid into the Sun Belt Conference Tournament semifinal round.
After clinching a podium finish with their wins over Texas State and Southern Miss on Wednesday, respectively, the Trojans (19-11, 13-4 SBC) and Red Wolves (18-10, 14-3 SBC) will battle for a spot in the semifinals with regular-season champions James Madison. The winner of Friday night plays in the semifinal round at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 9, while the loser plays on Saturday, March 8, at 2:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals.
Game Information
Location: Troy, Ala. – Trojan Arena
The Matchup: Troy (19-11, 13-4 SBC) vs. Arkansas State (18-10, 14-3 SBC)
When: Friday, Feb. 28 – 7 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Two or Three
With an 86-66 victory over Texas State, where Troy outscored the opposition each quarter, head coach Chanda Rigby earned her 250th career win at Troy – the second coach in program history with 250-plus wins. The Trojans also punched a ticket as a top-three seed in the SBC standings for the eighth time in the last 10 seasons as Emani Jenkins (15), Zay Dyer (14), Brianna Jackson (12), Shaulana Wagner (12) and Briana Peguero (11) all ended in double-figures for scoring.
The Trojans controlled the game all four quarters, shooting 44.4 percent through the 40 minutes of action and dominating the rebound battle 53-27 (21 offensive). Troy finished the job in the fourth quarter, peaking at 52.4 percent from the field, 60 percent from deep and 80 percent at the line to outscore Texas State 29-17. The free throw line made the difference as the Trojans shot 16-of-20, including an 8-of-8 showing from the program's most efficient single-season shooter at the charity stripe, Peguero (90.8).
As Troy heads into the regular season finale, the program aims to finish undefeated for league play in the friendly confines of Trojan Arena. The Trojans sit at 8-0 through league play for their best record in Sun Belt history – Troy's lone loss in Trojan Arena came via the MAC-SBC Challenge to Kent State. In Trojan Arena, Dyer sits atop the stat sheet for Troy in points (13.9) and rebounds (10) with a double-double in 5-of-11 games and double-digits for points in 10-of-11.
Friday night is a rematch between the Trojans and Red Wolves as Arkansas State earned its second win in the last 15 meetings on Jan. 30, 91-77. Troy held the 41-35 advantage heading into the second half before the Red Wolves shot 11-of-21 from deep in the final 20 minutes for the victory. However, history in Trojan Arena favors the Trojans as they sit 13-2 at home.
Live and Die Behind the Arc
Arkansas State narrowly escaped Southern Miss' comeback on Wednesday, collecting a 56-55 victory in Hattiesburg. The Red Wolves shot 13-of-41 from deep, with only seven makes coming from inside the arc, while holding the Golden Eagles to 32.2 percent shooting. Kennedie Montue willed the Red Wolves to victory as the lone player in double-figures with 14 points on four triples.
The Red Wolves live and die by the 3-point game, posting 35.2 percent from behind the arc in their 18 victories. Meanwhile, in the 10 losses, Arkansas State musters a 26.2 percent from deep. Arkansas State also leads the nation in 3-point attempts with 32.4 per game while having the fifth-best 3-point percentage in the SBC at 32.2 on the most triples per game (10.4).
Regular-Season Finale Numbers
• The winner of Friday night's matchup clinches a bid into the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals as the No. 2 seed as the Trojans hold the tiebreaker with their win over Coastal Carolina.
• Single-Season Records to Watch: Jenkins – total triples (three from 10th in D-I – 52) | Peguero – free throw percentage (first in D-I and overall – 90.8) | Dyer – total rebounds (10th overall, fifth in D-I – 316), average rebounds (fifth in D-I – 10.5) | Wagner – total assists (ninth in D-I – 139), average assists (fifth in D-I, sixth overall – 6.3) | Jackson – total blocks (ninth in D-I, 10th overall – 42)
• Career Records to Watch: Leilani Guion – 3-point percentage (eighth in D-I, ninth overall - .353) | Dyer – average rebounds (fourth in D-I, sixth overall – 9.4) | Wagner – average assists (second in D-I, third overall – 5.5)
• For the 10th straight season, the Trojans will enter the Sun Belt Conference Tournament as a top 4 seed. It's also the eighth time in the last 10 seasons Troy secured a top-three seed.
• With the victory over Texas State, Rigby scored her 250th career victory at Troy – the second coach in program history with 250-plus wins.
• The Trojans have recently owned Arkansas State, winning 13 of the last 15 meetings. In Troy, Ala., the Trojans are also 13-2 with one loss (Feb. 9, 2023) over the previous eight meetings.
• Jackson posted 16 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in the last meeting with the Red Wolves.
• Dyer leads the SBC in double-doubles with 14 – she also ranks 14th in the nation. No. 5 also holds the top spot in rebounds at 10.5 and ranks 14th nationally.
• Rigby (158-71) secured her 150th career Sun Belt Conference victory over Georgia State. The feat has only been done twice before in league history via Brian Boyer (Arkansas State – 193) and Joe Foley (Little Rock – 231).
• Jenkins has hit multiple 3-pointers in 14 of her last 18 games (39 total).
• Ashley Baez has finished with double-digits in 20-of-30 starts and swiped multiple steals in 16-of-30, including 52 in the last 26 games.
• In 17 of her last 22 games, Wagner's finished with 5-plus assists. She's collected 5-plus assists 32 times in her Troy career.
• No. 13 has led Troy in scoring and/or assists in all 22 games in 2024-25 she's played in.
• Dyer scored 10-plus points in 22 of her 29 starts.
• Jenkins and Peguero rank in the top 20 for league play 3-pointers made, tied for fifth (2.1) and tied for 14th (1.8), respectively.
• Peguero is 31-of-76 from deep in the last 17 games, averaging 1.8 makes per game on 40.8 percent shooting.
• In league play, the Trojans rank in the top 5 on shooting from the field (second – 44.0) and at the charity stripe (fourth – 73.0).
• Guion has made at least one triple in 16 of her last 23 games (24 total).
• Jackson has rejected a shot in 16 of the last 22 games (32 total) to rank second in the SBC with 1.40 blocks per game – Jackson ranks second in total blocks at 42.
• The Trojans put the 3-point game into their arsenal through league play, jumping from 5.3 triples on 26.6 percent shooting in nonconference play to 7.2 on 31.9 percent.
• Jackson's 12 points versus Texas State marked her ninth double-digit scoring performance in the last 11 games.
• In all six games where Jackson had double-digit rebounds, she claimed a double-double.
• With the victory over Old Dominion, Rigby has now defeated every current Sun Belt opponent.
• Troy responded to losing the rebound battle against South Alabama with a 53-27 win on the boards and 21 on the offensive end over Texas State.
• Troy improved its record to 16-0, 12-0 SBC when scoring above 80 points with 86 on Texas State.
• Troy continued its best league record at home with a win over the Bobcats as it collected an eighth straight win for 8-0.
• Jenkins went 3-of-6 from behind the arc for her sixth game with 3-plus triples against Texas State.
• Troy took over in the fourth quarter, outscoring Texas State 29-17 on 52.4 percent from the field and 60 percent from deep. Meanwhile, the Bobcats shot 37.5 percent on the floor and 0-of-5 behind the arc.
• The victory marked Troy's 10th straight over Texas State.
• Through 30 games, Troy remains the premiere team in the country for rebounding, leading the pack with 49.1 per game.
• Troy leads the league in rebound margin (plus-11.7), defensive rebounds (32.9), total rebounds (49.1) and scoring offense (78.5) – it ranks 22nd in the country for scoring.
• The Trojans shot 50 percent or higher for the fourth time in 2024-25 (50 percent) against South Alabama, remaining undefeated at 4-0 with that feat.
• Morris ended with a team-high and career-high in steals with five over USA. She became the third active Trojan and first to have 5-plus steals since Peguero had five against Oakwood on Dec. 4, 2024.
• Morris erupted in 27 minutes off the bench with 16 points on 5-of-5 from the field against ULM to become the first player since La'Tia Fils-Aime' (7-of-7 – Thomas) on Nov. 21, 2016, to shoot 100 percent (min. five shots).
• Jenkins tied for second in Troy D-I history with 19 other players for the most triples in a single game at six at Texas State – she's the first since Jasmine Robinson at Georgia Southern (Feb. 5, 2021).
• Troy's 14 triples against the Bobcats marked the most for Troy since it hit 15 against Georgia Southern on Feb. 16, 2019. Thursday was also the 52nd time in Rigby's tenure that her Trojans made double-digit triples.
• The 47-point victory over Texas State marked the largest in program history for league road games. The previous high was 41 points, 93-52, at Louisiana on Feb. 25, 2009.
• Jacksons's 22-rebound performance against the Monarchs tied Felmas Koranga (March 8, 2021) and Caitlyn Ramirez (March 9, 2017) for the second-most rebounds in a D-I Troy single-game.
• On her birthday, Ngnawo performed with a career-high 25 points, tying Dyer for the most points by a Trojan in 2024-25 – her first career 20-plus point game becomes the sixth active Trojan with such a feat.
• Dyer earned Sun Belt Player of the Week (Jan. 7), averaging 18 points, 16.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in wins against Coastal Carolina and Marshall - she followed it with back-to-back awards (Jan. 14) on 20 points, 16.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks over App State and Georgia State.
• No. 5 became the first Trojan to go back-to-back with SBC POTW awards since Kayla Robinson (Feb. 5, Feb. 12) in 2017-18.
• Wagner became the first D-I player in Troy women's basketball history to record a triple-double on 12 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
• The 2024-25 roster contains zero underclassmen, with six as seniors and six as juniors.
After clinching a podium finish with their wins over Texas State and Southern Miss on Wednesday, respectively, the Trojans (19-11, 13-4 SBC) and Red Wolves (18-10, 14-3 SBC) will battle for a spot in the semifinals with regular-season champions James Madison. The winner of Friday night plays in the semifinal round at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 9, while the loser plays on Saturday, March 8, at 2:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals.
Game Information
Location: Troy, Ala. – Trojan Arena
The Matchup: Troy (19-11, 13-4 SBC) vs. Arkansas State (18-10, 14-3 SBC)
When: Friday, Feb. 28 – 7 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Two or Three
With an 86-66 victory over Texas State, where Troy outscored the opposition each quarter, head coach Chanda Rigby earned her 250th career win at Troy – the second coach in program history with 250-plus wins. The Trojans also punched a ticket as a top-three seed in the SBC standings for the eighth time in the last 10 seasons as Emani Jenkins (15), Zay Dyer (14), Brianna Jackson (12), Shaulana Wagner (12) and Briana Peguero (11) all ended in double-figures for scoring.
The Trojans controlled the game all four quarters, shooting 44.4 percent through the 40 minutes of action and dominating the rebound battle 53-27 (21 offensive). Troy finished the job in the fourth quarter, peaking at 52.4 percent from the field, 60 percent from deep and 80 percent at the line to outscore Texas State 29-17. The free throw line made the difference as the Trojans shot 16-of-20, including an 8-of-8 showing from the program's most efficient single-season shooter at the charity stripe, Peguero (90.8).
As Troy heads into the regular season finale, the program aims to finish undefeated for league play in the friendly confines of Trojan Arena. The Trojans sit at 8-0 through league play for their best record in Sun Belt history – Troy's lone loss in Trojan Arena came via the MAC-SBC Challenge to Kent State. In Trojan Arena, Dyer sits atop the stat sheet for Troy in points (13.9) and rebounds (10) with a double-double in 5-of-11 games and double-digits for points in 10-of-11.
Friday night is a rematch between the Trojans and Red Wolves as Arkansas State earned its second win in the last 15 meetings on Jan. 30, 91-77. Troy held the 41-35 advantage heading into the second half before the Red Wolves shot 11-of-21 from deep in the final 20 minutes for the victory. However, history in Trojan Arena favors the Trojans as they sit 13-2 at home.
Live and Die Behind the Arc
Arkansas State narrowly escaped Southern Miss' comeback on Wednesday, collecting a 56-55 victory in Hattiesburg. The Red Wolves shot 13-of-41 from deep, with only seven makes coming from inside the arc, while holding the Golden Eagles to 32.2 percent shooting. Kennedie Montue willed the Red Wolves to victory as the lone player in double-figures with 14 points on four triples.
The Red Wolves live and die by the 3-point game, posting 35.2 percent from behind the arc in their 18 victories. Meanwhile, in the 10 losses, Arkansas State musters a 26.2 percent from deep. Arkansas State also leads the nation in 3-point attempts with 32.4 per game while having the fifth-best 3-point percentage in the SBC at 32.2 on the most triples per game (10.4).
Regular-Season Finale Numbers
• The winner of Friday night's matchup clinches a bid into the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals as the No. 2 seed as the Trojans hold the tiebreaker with their win over Coastal Carolina.
• Single-Season Records to Watch: Jenkins – total triples (three from 10th in D-I – 52) | Peguero – free throw percentage (first in D-I and overall – 90.8) | Dyer – total rebounds (10th overall, fifth in D-I – 316), average rebounds (fifth in D-I – 10.5) | Wagner – total assists (ninth in D-I – 139), average assists (fifth in D-I, sixth overall – 6.3) | Jackson – total blocks (ninth in D-I, 10th overall – 42)
• Career Records to Watch: Leilani Guion – 3-point percentage (eighth in D-I, ninth overall - .353) | Dyer – average rebounds (fourth in D-I, sixth overall – 9.4) | Wagner – average assists (second in D-I, third overall – 5.5)
• For the 10th straight season, the Trojans will enter the Sun Belt Conference Tournament as a top 4 seed. It's also the eighth time in the last 10 seasons Troy secured a top-three seed.
• With the victory over Texas State, Rigby scored her 250th career victory at Troy – the second coach in program history with 250-plus wins.
• The Trojans have recently owned Arkansas State, winning 13 of the last 15 meetings. In Troy, Ala., the Trojans are also 13-2 with one loss (Feb. 9, 2023) over the previous eight meetings.
• Jackson posted 16 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in the last meeting with the Red Wolves.
• Dyer leads the SBC in double-doubles with 14 – she also ranks 14th in the nation. No. 5 also holds the top spot in rebounds at 10.5 and ranks 14th nationally.
• Rigby (158-71) secured her 150th career Sun Belt Conference victory over Georgia State. The feat has only been done twice before in league history via Brian Boyer (Arkansas State – 193) and Joe Foley (Little Rock – 231).
• Jenkins has hit multiple 3-pointers in 14 of her last 18 games (39 total).
• Ashley Baez has finished with double-digits in 20-of-30 starts and swiped multiple steals in 16-of-30, including 52 in the last 26 games.
• In 17 of her last 22 games, Wagner's finished with 5-plus assists. She's collected 5-plus assists 32 times in her Troy career.
• No. 13 has led Troy in scoring and/or assists in all 22 games in 2024-25 she's played in.
• Dyer scored 10-plus points in 22 of her 29 starts.
• Jenkins and Peguero rank in the top 20 for league play 3-pointers made, tied for fifth (2.1) and tied for 14th (1.8), respectively.
• Peguero is 31-of-76 from deep in the last 17 games, averaging 1.8 makes per game on 40.8 percent shooting.
• In league play, the Trojans rank in the top 5 on shooting from the field (second – 44.0) and at the charity stripe (fourth – 73.0).
• Guion has made at least one triple in 16 of her last 23 games (24 total).
• Jackson has rejected a shot in 16 of the last 22 games (32 total) to rank second in the SBC with 1.40 blocks per game – Jackson ranks second in total blocks at 42.
• The Trojans put the 3-point game into their arsenal through league play, jumping from 5.3 triples on 26.6 percent shooting in nonconference play to 7.2 on 31.9 percent.
• Jackson's 12 points versus Texas State marked her ninth double-digit scoring performance in the last 11 games.
• In all six games where Jackson had double-digit rebounds, she claimed a double-double.
• With the victory over Old Dominion, Rigby has now defeated every current Sun Belt opponent.
• Troy responded to losing the rebound battle against South Alabama with a 53-27 win on the boards and 21 on the offensive end over Texas State.
• Troy improved its record to 16-0, 12-0 SBC when scoring above 80 points with 86 on Texas State.
• Troy continued its best league record at home with a win over the Bobcats as it collected an eighth straight win for 8-0.
• Jenkins went 3-of-6 from behind the arc for her sixth game with 3-plus triples against Texas State.
• Troy took over in the fourth quarter, outscoring Texas State 29-17 on 52.4 percent from the field and 60 percent from deep. Meanwhile, the Bobcats shot 37.5 percent on the floor and 0-of-5 behind the arc.
• The victory marked Troy's 10th straight over Texas State.
• Through 30 games, Troy remains the premiere team in the country for rebounding, leading the pack with 49.1 per game.
• Troy leads the league in rebound margin (plus-11.7), defensive rebounds (32.9), total rebounds (49.1) and scoring offense (78.5) – it ranks 22nd in the country for scoring.
• The Trojans shot 50 percent or higher for the fourth time in 2024-25 (50 percent) against South Alabama, remaining undefeated at 4-0 with that feat.
• Morris ended with a team-high and career-high in steals with five over USA. She became the third active Trojan and first to have 5-plus steals since Peguero had five against Oakwood on Dec. 4, 2024.
• Morris erupted in 27 minutes off the bench with 16 points on 5-of-5 from the field against ULM to become the first player since La'Tia Fils-Aime' (7-of-7 – Thomas) on Nov. 21, 2016, to shoot 100 percent (min. five shots).
• Jenkins tied for second in Troy D-I history with 19 other players for the most triples in a single game at six at Texas State – she's the first since Jasmine Robinson at Georgia Southern (Feb. 5, 2021).
• Troy's 14 triples against the Bobcats marked the most for Troy since it hit 15 against Georgia Southern on Feb. 16, 2019. Thursday was also the 52nd time in Rigby's tenure that her Trojans made double-digit triples.
• The 47-point victory over Texas State marked the largest in program history for league road games. The previous high was 41 points, 93-52, at Louisiana on Feb. 25, 2009.
• Jacksons's 22-rebound performance against the Monarchs tied Felmas Koranga (March 8, 2021) and Caitlyn Ramirez (March 9, 2017) for the second-most rebounds in a D-I Troy single-game.
• On her birthday, Ngnawo performed with a career-high 25 points, tying Dyer for the most points by a Trojan in 2024-25 – her first career 20-plus point game becomes the sixth active Trojan with such a feat.
• Dyer earned Sun Belt Player of the Week (Jan. 7), averaging 18 points, 16.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in wins against Coastal Carolina and Marshall - she followed it with back-to-back awards (Jan. 14) on 20 points, 16.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks over App State and Georgia State.
• No. 5 became the first Trojan to go back-to-back with SBC POTW awards since Kayla Robinson (Feb. 5, Feb. 12) in 2017-18.
• Wagner became the first D-I player in Troy women's basketball history to record a triple-double on 12 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
• The 2024-25 roster contains zero underclassmen, with six as seniors and six as juniors.
Players Mentioned
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/ Basketball (W)Player Postgame Press Conference (Rachel Leggett, Ashley Baez) - Marshall
Friday, January 30
Chanda Rigby Postgame Press Conference - Coastal Carolina
Friday, January 30
Troy at Marshall (Full Highlights)
Wednesday, January 28
Player Postgame Press Conference (Ashley Baez, Fortuna Ngnawo) - Marshall
Wednesday, January 28