Troy Drops MAC-SBC Challenge to Kent State

Saturday, February 8

Troy, Ala.

1 p.m.

Troy University

15-10,9-3Sun Belt

Kent State

16-8,8-3MAC

Kent St.

Troy

Troy Drops MAC-SBC Challenge to Kent State

2/8/2025 6:56:00 PM | Basketball (W)

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Troy's fourth-quarter rally couldn't break through Kent State as it takes the first loss in Trojan Arena, 84-73, on Saturday afternoon.

The loss drops the Trojans (15-10, 9-3 SBC) to 7-1 in Trojan Arena, ending the second-best home start in head coach Chanda Rigby's tenure, and 1-3 in the MAC-SBC Challenge. Meanwhile, the Golden Flashes (16-8, 8-3 MAC) improved to 2-2 in the second year of the challenge.

Fortuna Ngnawo erupted on her 22^nd birthday with 25 points to tie Zay Dyer for the highest scoring performance by a Trojan in 2024-25 – the 25 points also set a career-high in her first 20-plus point performance. The Cameroon native also converted 12-of-18 from the field for the first 10-plus field goals made game since Dyer against Coastal Carolina (Jan. 2). Ashley Baez (11) and Emani Jenkins (14) joined Ngnawo in double-figures for the 18^th and seventh time in 2024-25, respectively. Baez also led the team with three steals, while Jenkins had her fifth game with 3-plus triples.

Janae Tyler delivered the most points of any individual player in 2024-25 against Troy with 28 points on 13-of-21 from the field. No. 34 also had three steals, six rebounds and an assist. Four of Kent State's starters ended with 10-plus points: Jenna Batsch – 18, Bridget Dunn – 16 and Mya Babbitt – 12. The Golden Flashes became the fourth team to outrebound the Trojans, 44-42, as they shot 47.9 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep on 10 made triples.

Down But Never Out
Kent State capitalized on a slow start by the Trojans as it ballooned the margin to 15, 21-6, through the first six minutes. Jenkins broke through for Troy when she banged in her first triple, 21-9, with 3:40 remaining.

Both sides exchanged two points, 23-11, before Briana Peguero took the pass from Baez and hit from behind the arc to bring it within single digits, 23-14. After Taylor boosted the margin to 12 off a second-chance layup, Ngnawo recorded back-to-back buckets to end the first quarter down eight, 27-19.

The Golden Flashes got a pair of free throws to open the second, 29-19. Jenkins responded with her second triple of the day, off a Dyer assist. Tyler missed her next shot for the Golden Flashes, opening the door for Emma Imevbore inside, 29-24 – 7:58 left in the second.

Troy clawed back after Tyler made the layup, and Babbitt hit a triple to regain a 10-point lead, 34-24, 1:00 later. An offensive rebound allowed Jenkins to hit from deep, and Ngnawo followed with a lay-in to recut the margin to five, 34-29, with 6:02 left. The comeback continued when Troy cut the margin to three on two occasions when Khila Morris made the layup off a fastbreak turnover, 36-33, and Ngnawo converted her 11^th point on a jumper, 38-35.

Kent State took control after Nganwo's bucket and outscored the Trojans 28-15 over the next 12 minutes to hold a 66-50 lead with 0:40 left in the third on a triple by Batsch. Ngnawo ended the third quarter with a jumper outside the paint, 66-52, which flipped the momentum to Troy to open the fourth.

After a scoreless 3:13 in the fourth, Troy kept the momentum going when Brianna Jackson hit both shots at the line, and Baez dropped a triple, 66-57. The 0-of-4 start in the fourth continued for Kent State, allowing Baez to convert the lay-in, 66-59 – 6:05 on the clock.

A brief 5-3 run for Kent State that ended on a triple for Dunn gave the opposition a 71-62 advantage with 4:35 on the clock. Peguero and Ngnawo responded with an and-one and jumper, respectively, to make it a four-point game, 71-67, with 3:45 left.

Batsch matched the Troy rally with a triple, 74-67, which changed the momentum for the final time. The MAC foe would keep Troy to just two makes at the line and a jumper from Adriana Jones and Baez in the final three minutes while it ballooned the lead to 15, 84-69, on a free throw from Tyler en route to an 84-73 win.

Head Coach Chanda Rigby
"It's a very disappointing loss in Trojan Arena. We had a great win streak heading into today and were doing great things and improving. But Kent State is a good team. They won the MAC last season and played in the NCAA Tournament. Add in the fact that they returned all their players; I knew it was going to be hard if we got off to a slow start. And we did. We let them outrun us in the first half. We came out with better energy in the second half, but they never gave up that lead. We should never get outrebounded by a team, so we need to get back. We need our attention to return to conference play and focus on the main goal of a league title. We got ULM next, and they are like a sleeping giant. If we wake them up, we need to be ready to respond."

Back to SBC Play
Troy remains home to face ULM in Trojan Arena at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

MAC-SBC Notes
• On her birthday, Ngnawo performed with a career-high 25 points, tying Zay 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 feat.
• Jenkins hit three triples to end with 14 points. She's hit multiple 3-pointers in 11 of her last 13 games (30 total).
• Troy's bench produced for the team, scoring 45 of its 73 points (61.6 percent) as opposed to Kent State's bench with eight.
• Baez returned to double figures for the 18^th time in 2024-25 to average 11.1 points.
• Ngnawo shot 12-of-18 from the field, marking the first time a Trojan had 10-plus made field goals since Dyer on Jan. 2, 2025.
• Despite the loss, the Trojans remain 7-1 in Trojan Arena.
• The Trojans dominated the second quarter, outshooting Kent State 46.7 percent to the opposition's 28.6.