By: Caleb Odom
The Troy women’s basketball team’s struggles continued last Thursday when it had no answer for Arkansas State in an 87-74 loss at Trojan Arena.
The Trojans falling to the Red Wolves makes it Troy’s eighth straight loss in a so far disappointing first season at the helm for Coach Chanda Rigby.
“You have got to win a lot of battles to win the war,” Rigby said. “We have not won enough of them yet.”
Arkansas State dominated Troy, shooting the ball inside the arc going 32 of 57 for a 56.1 field goal percentage compared to the Trojans’ dismal 26 for 80 with a 32.5 percentage.
“I think it is between their ears and it is the toughest thing to coach.” Rigby said.
Despite the loss, freshman guard Ashley Beverly-Kelley finished the game for the Trojans with 21 total points and eight boards.
Troy forward Dominique Ross racked up double digit rebounds with a team high 11 against the Red Wolves.
Rigby made a point to draw on the positives of the game even though the Trojans fell short in the end.
“The only way we are going to turn this around is if they all lock arms and say ‘we are all going to have our best tonight.’” Rigby said.
The Troy coach talked about how each player during practice takes 100 free throw shots but the preparation just didn’t translate in the game as the Trojans were only 14 for 21 a 66.7 percentage from the charity stripe.
At the half, Arkansas State was up 43-35 but in the second half the game really got away from Troy when the Red Wolves jumped out to a lead as large as 15 at one point.
In the end better shooting would prevail for the visiting Arkansas State who took the game 87-74.
The (3-15) Trojans look to rebound on the road today at 2 pm against Sun Belt opponent Louisiana Monroe.
