Women’s Basketball Fourth-Quarter Rally Falls Short Against Georgia Southern; Dyer Claims 1,000th Career Rebound

Thursday, January 22

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

15-4,6-2Sun Belt

Georgia Southern

14-5,7-2Sun Belt

Ga. Southern

Troy

Women’s Basketball Fourth-Quarter Rally Falls Short Against Georgia Southern; Dyer Claims 1,000th Career Rebound

1/22/2026 9:45:00 PM | Basketball (W)

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Troy entered the fourth quarter down 20 and cut it to within eight, but couldn't complete the comeback, falling short to Georgia Southern, 80-69, on Thursday night in Trojan Arena.

The Trojans (15-4, 6-2 SBC) outscored the Eagles (14-5, 7-2 SBC) 27-18 in the fourth quarter on 47.4 percent shooting but fell for just the third time in the last 24 meetings and the first time at home.

Zay Dyer and Fortuna Ngnawo claimed double-doubles as Dyer claimed her 1,000^th career rebound on her fourth of the game. She ranks 15^th among active D-I players for career rebounds at 1,008. The Atlanta native ended the game with 15 points, 12 rebounds and three steals. Ngnawo ended with 10 points and a team-high 15 rebounds for her 10^th double-double in the last 11 games. Rachel Leggett scored 15 points, and Ashley Baez added 12.

Destiny Garrett (29) and Shanti Simmons (28) combined for 57 points, 11 assists, 10 steals and eight 3-pointers in Georgia Southern's victory. McKenna Eddings added four threes for 15 points. The Eagles shot above 50 percent in the second half to finish the game at 45.2 percent from the field and 46.4 percent from beyond the arc and forced 23 turnovers.

Fourth Quarter Rally
After being outscored 26-6 in the third quarter to be down 20, 62-42, Troy launched its fourth-quarter comeback. Ngnawo grabbed the offensive rebound and scored the layup to start a 13-2 run over the first three minutes to cut the deficit to nine, 64-55, with 6:42 on the clock – Leggett scored six straight points to close the run.

The Eagles scored back-to-back baskets to stop the Trojans' run and push their lead back to 13 with 6:00 left. The margin steadied at 15 until 2:22 left, and Troy launched another run. Dyer took the pass from Saniya Jackson and hit the jumper to open the 7-0 run. Jackson proceeded to intercept the pass and draw the foul to hit a pair at the line.

Garrett missed her shot and a pair of free throws on Georgia Southern's next possession, and Jenkins found her spot on the wing and hit her first 3-pointer to cut the margin to eight, 76-68, with 1:21 left. The Trojans managed just one more point on a Ngnawo free throw to come up short 80-69.

First Half of Runs
A free throw from Georgia Southern started the ballgame 32 seconds in before Troy rattled off a 5-0 burst to hold the 5-1 lead with 8:22 left in the opening quarter. First, Jenkins found Ngnawo for a buzzer-beater mid-range jump shot. Then, Jenkins found Dyer at the top of the arc for the 3-pointer.

Eddings matched the three with her own before another run by Troy. After having two straight assists, Jenkins made the jumper, followed by a pair of free throws for Baez, 9-4. Leggett finished the 6-0 run after Dyer stole the ball and Baez found Leggett for the fastbreak layup and an 11-4 lead with 5:38 on the clock.

Troy brought its advantage back to seven twice in the first quarter with a tip-in layup for Dyer, 13-6, and a second-chance free throw for Detavia Salter, 16-9. Back-to-back 3-pointers for the Eagles to end the first quarter and a second-chance jumper to open the second quarter gave the opposition the 17-16 lead with 9:27 remaining in the first half.

Georgia Southern opened its lead to seven, 27-20, with 6:29 left before Troy rallied back with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to reclaim the lead, 29-27. Ngnawo (2), Baez (5) and Dyer (2) contributed on the run. After the Eagles took a 31-29 lead, Troy scored seven straight points, 36-31, with a second-chance jumper and 3-pointer from Lana Koricanac and two free throws from Leggett.

Head Coach Chanda Rigby
"We're heartbroken tonight in Trojan Arena. We didn't play the way we wanted, and we didn't get the result we wanted. Credit to Georgia Southern — Coach Hana Haden had a great game plan, and her team was very determined. We gave them confidence in the first half by having our hands down instead of up, and they made a lot of threes. We also hurt ourselves with turnovers — they weren't forced; they were mistakes we have to correct. I take responsibility for how the third quarter went. From there, we were playing catch-up. We adjusted defensively, put in our fastest and most aggressive players, and they did well. We cut it to single digits, but they kept answering. It's a loss, but more importantly, it's something we have to learn from. The players will get some rest tonight, and the coaches will stay up working on the scouting report for Georgia State. We'll address what happened in this game, but we won't dwell on it — we have to get our emotions back up."

Up Next
Troy invites its second Peach State team of the week in Georgia State on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Game Stats
• Zay Dyer claimed her 11^th double-double against Georgia Southern on 15 points and 12 rebounds. Fortuna Ngnawo also claimed her 10^th double-double in the last 11 games with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
• With her fourth rebound against Georgia Southern, Zay Dyer grabbed her 1,000^th career rebound. She ranks 15^th among active D-I players in career rebounds at 1,008.
• For the 10^th time in her last 11 games, Rachel Leggett finished in double-figures for scoring with 15 points. She also had a team-high four steals against Georgia Southern.
• In Troy's fourth-quarter comeback, the team outscored Georgia Southern 27-18, shooting 47.4 percent from the field.
• Despite the loss, Troy still outrebounded Georgia Southern 48-31 to remain unbeaten in league play in the rebound battle.