Troy University Athletics
Women’s Basketball Set for Road Test at Ball State in MAC-SBC Challenge on Feb. 7
1/6/2026 11:55:00 AM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – With Troy women's basketball off to its best start in program history, the Sun Belt and Mid-American league offices announced Tuesday morning that it will travel to Worthen Arena to face Ball State on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 12 p.m. CT (1 p.m. ET) in the second MAC-SBC Challenge matchup of 2025-26.
"Ball State is currently leading the MAC Conference with an undefeated record," head coach Chanda Rigby said. "For us to stay undefeated in this season's two-game MAC challenge, we will need to be at our best when we travel to Muncie to play them."
Troy opened 2025-26 with a victory in Trojan Arena against Toledo, improving its MAC-SBC Challenge record to 2-3 overall. In the victory, the Trojans shot 46.7 percent from the floor and held the Rockets to 25.9. Since that season-opening victory, Fortuna Ngnawo leads the Trojans in points (15.3) and steals (1.3), while Zay Dyer leads the SBC with seven double-doubles on 12.5 points and a team-high 11.9 rebounds.
Through 14 games, Troy ranks fourth in the Mid-Major polls and 69th in the NCAA NET Rankings at 11-3, 2-1 SBC. Meanwhile, Ball State sits 80th in the NET Rankings as the MAC standings leader at 11-4, 3-0 MAC.
The MAC-SBC Challenge began during the 2023-24 season at the recommendation of the Sun Belt's strategic planning committees for men's and women's basketball. Scheduling assistance is provided by Ordinal Sports Group. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests is considered in determining the matchups. Each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-SBC Challenge, currently scheduled to resume through the 2026-27 campaign, is guaranteed one home and one away game each season.
"Ball State is currently leading the MAC Conference with an undefeated record," head coach Chanda Rigby said. "For us to stay undefeated in this season's two-game MAC challenge, we will need to be at our best when we travel to Muncie to play them."
Troy opened 2025-26 with a victory in Trojan Arena against Toledo, improving its MAC-SBC Challenge record to 2-3 overall. In the victory, the Trojans shot 46.7 percent from the floor and held the Rockets to 25.9. Since that season-opening victory, Fortuna Ngnawo leads the Trojans in points (15.3) and steals (1.3), while Zay Dyer leads the SBC with seven double-doubles on 12.5 points and a team-high 11.9 rebounds.
Through 14 games, Troy ranks fourth in the Mid-Major polls and 69th in the NCAA NET Rankings at 11-3, 2-1 SBC. Meanwhile, Ball State sits 80th in the NET Rankings as the MAC standings leader at 11-4, 3-0 MAC.
The MAC-SBC Challenge began during the 2023-24 season at the recommendation of the Sun Belt's strategic planning committees for men's and women's basketball. Scheduling assistance is provided by Ordinal Sports Group. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests is considered in determining the matchups. Each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-SBC Challenge, currently scheduled to resume through the 2026-27 campaign, is guaranteed one home and one away game each season.
Players Mentioned
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