Troy Surges Over North Dakota State in Overtime to Advance to Fab 4

Monday, March 31

Fargo, N.D.

7 p.m.

Troy University

23-13,13-5Sun Belt

North Dakota State

21-12,11-5Summit League

OT 1

Troy

North Dakota St.

Troy Surges Over North Dakota State in Overtime to Advance to Fab 4

3/31/2025 10:10:00 PM | Basketball (W)

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

FARGO, N.D. – For the second straight game, the Troy women's basketball team survived an overtime matchup, outscoring North Dakota State 16-7 in extra time on Monday night in the Scheels Center to advance into a second straight WNIT Fab 4.

Five Trojans contributed in overtime via 10 free throws as Troy (23-13) triumphed over the Bisons (21-12) for a second time in 2024-25 en route to its second straight WNIT Fab 4 appearance. Troy now heads to Illinois State for a shot at the WNIT Championship game on Wednesday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m.

For the third straight game, five Trojans ended with double-figures, led by a career-high 22-point performance from Briana Peguero on 10-of-11 at the charity stripe. Shaulana Wagner followed suit with 18 points and a team-high four assists, while Zay Dyer (14), Brianna Jackson (14) and Fortuna Ngnawo (11) all joined her with 10-plus points. Troy lit up the scoreboard via the free throw line, hitting 26 at the line and dominating the rebound battle, 56-37.

Avery Koenen willed North Dakota State with a 23-point, 14-rebound double-double, tying Abby Schulte with a team-high of five assists – Schulte also had 12 points. Abbie Draper, Molly Lenz and Marisa Frost also ended with double digits in the scoring column with 10, 11 and 10 points, respectively. North Dakota State shot efficiently in regulation but went cold in overtime with a 3-of-13 showing to end its season.

16-7
The Bisons started off hot from deep as Abby Krezewinski got the assist Koenen and hit from deep to take an 84-81 lead with 4:32 left in overtime.

Krezewinski's triple was the Bisons' last points until 0:50 remaining as Dyer went back-to-back-to-back inside, including her first off a travel by the Bisons and the third on a second-chance opportunity to hold an 87-84 lead with 2:13 in extra time.

Jackson and Peguero continued the 10-0 run until 1:01 showed on the clock at the charity stripe as both hit a pair to take a 91-84 lead. North Dakota State ended its scoreless drought via Claire Stern, who hit a layup with 0:50 remaining.

In the final minute of regulation, the Trojans polished off their overtime onslaught, going 4-of-6 at the line on free throws by Wagner (3) and Emani Jenkins (1) to punch their ticket into the WNIT semifinal round and sweep the Bisons.

Off to Overtime
Neither side gave way in the third quarter as North Dakota State held the 62-61 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes. Troy set the tone with 8:54 remaining via Wagner and Ngnawo as she finished the and-one and Ngnawo finished in the paint for a 64-62 lead.

Koenen calmed the start by Troy with a free throw, but the Trojans ramped it back up behind the arc. First, a miss by the Bisons ended in the hands of Peguero, who converted her second triple, 69-63, with 7:05 on the clock. After another miss by North Dakota State, head coach Chanda Rigby called the timeout and drew up the play for Jenkins. Out of the timeout, Jenkins banged in the jumper to take a 71-63 lead.

A four-point run by Dyer allowed Troy to take its largest lead of the game, 77-68, with 3:40 remaining. North Dakota State launched its comeback with a hook shot by Draper and a triple from Abby Graham, 77-73, with 2:41 left. Both sides kept battling as Peguero hit a free throw to make it a 79-75 game with 0:23 on the clock.

With 0:19 left, Lenz threw up the triple and Peguero was called for the foul – Lenz hit all three at the charity stripe to make it a 79-78 game. The senior guard proceeded to get fouled on the inbound and make it a three-point game at the line, 81-78. Four seconds later, Lenz got the assist from Schulte and sent the game to overtime with a triple.

Head Coach Chanda Rigby
"No matter the outcome, I was so proud of this team. We were put in adverse situations all game long and this team persevered throughout. It was clear after the first half that they were going to score inside and at the line. So, we made those adjustments, and this team did a great job executing. It wasn't just the big shots from Briana, it was how tough she played. She took it all to heart and played out of her mind. I'm also proud of Shaulana. She's become a coach on the floor and knows how to get everyone involved. It's remarkable to watch. For all those watching, we appreciate you. This journey continues to be incredible. Now, we're in the Fab 4 for the second time in a row. We are determined to keep this going and go for a national championship."

Next Up
The Trojans punched their ticket into the Fab 4 for the second straight season, awaiting Illinois State on April 2 at 6:30 p.m.

Great 8 Stats
• With Jackson's 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, she's scored in double-figures in fourth straight games and in 15 of her last 18 games.
• Peguero continued her assault at the charity stripe, hitting 10 free throws in 11 attempts to improve her percentage to 87.6, which ranks third in Troy single-season history.
• Jackson rejected two shots to tie Mandee Armstrong for the fourth-most blocks in a single-season (62).
• For the second straight game, the Trojans survive in overtime to improve their record to 27-16 under Rigby in overtime games.
• Despite the 15 lead changes and seven tied scores, the Trojans led for 26:20 of the 45 minutes.
• Troy dominated the rebound battle 56-37, resulting in a 17-8 win in second-chance points.
• Peguero's 22 points on 10 made free throws resulted in a new career-high – her previous was 19 against Marist on Nov. 23, 2023.