( Photo / Troy Athletics )
Head Coach Chanda Rigby talks to Alexus Dye and Felmas Koranga during a timeout.
Hanna Cooper
Editor-In-Chief
The Troy women’s basketball team continues to roll through the Sun Belt Conference sweeping a pair of contests against Appalachian State last weekend at the Holmes Convocation Center in Boone, North Carolina.
Last Friday night, Troy defeated the Mountaineers, 80-60, powered by Tiyah Johnson who posted her first career double-double. The senior scored a game-high 17 points and collected 10 boards.
“I think we had a lot of determination from the beginning,” Head Coach Chanda Rigby said. “The altitude did get to us a little bit, and we started to get them out sooner.
“Our bench really helped us give the starters a break. Once we were able to catch our breath and get used to the altitude, we were able to put forth more effort on the defensive end.”
The Trojans trailed App State, 20-14, at the end of the first quarter after the Mountaineers opened up a 15-4 run late in the quarter, but a 26-point second quarter sent the Trojans into the half with a six-point advantage.
Coming out of the half, App State cut Troy’s lead to one before the Trojans dominated the rest of the third and fourth quarter.
Last Saturday, Troy defeated App State, 74-52, to extend its win streak against the Mountaineers to seven.
The Mountaineers took their lone led of the game midway through the first quarter after sinking a three.
A pair of made free throws by Janiah Sandifer gave the Trojans the lead back, and Troy never turned back.
Troy went on a 14-0 run and held App State scoreless for more than eight minutes. The Trojans used the large run and stout defense to go into the locker room with a 39-24 advantage.
App State fought hard through the remaining 20 minutes chipping away at Troy’s lead, but the Trojans scored 11 of the first 15 points of the fourth quarter to solidify the win.
“I’m just really proud of the team,” Coach Rigby said. “It was coach Courtney Simmons scout and she did a great job of preparing the team.
“It’s not easy getting two wins in one weekend, especially on the road, and I thought it showed a lot of fortitude of the team to come back and get the second win today (last Saturday).”
The Trojans return to action on Friday against Georgia Southern. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. from Hanner Fieldhouse.
