Wally Pendergrass
Staff Writer
The Troy women’s basketball team’s six-game winning streak was snapped this week as the Trojans lost to conference leader UALR on Thursday, Jan. 22, and at home against Arkansas State on Saturday, Jan. 24.
The Trojans struggled to get going in the first half against UALR, shooting only 21 percent from the floor, and trailed at the break 42-18.
Troy fought back and was outscored in the second half by only two points, 40-38, but the deficit was too much and the UALR Trojans took the game 82-56.
Senior forward Ronita Garrett led the Trojans with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds. The Trojans also lost senior forward Brianna Lancaster to an injury in the game.
While Garrett was the only Troy Trojan to score double digits, four of UALR’s Trojans scored double digits.
The loss was the Trojans’ second in conference play and snapped the six-game winning streak.
On Saturday, Jan. 24, Troy took on the Arkansas State Red Wolves in a close conference match.
Unlike previous games where Troy struggled in the first half, the Trojans actually led the game at the half 41-37. The Trojans were able to stretch that lead out to seven points in the second half but were unable to hold onto it.
The game was very close going down the stretch, tied 76-76 with less than three minutes left in the game. The Trojans went cold shooting the ball, and Arkansas State ended the game with a 6-0 run to win 82-76.
Garrett posted her 12th double-double of the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing 18 rebounds.
Sophomore forward Caitlyn Ramirez got her first career start, replacing Lancaster, scoring 11 points and grabbing four rebounds. Junior guards Ashley Beverly-Kelley and Lacey Buchanon both contributed 10 points in the game.
“Us having our starting post player out, Bri Lancaster, I think hurt us,” said head coach Chanda Rigby. “They really did a good job rebounding. Normally Bri is the person who stops that, and we missed that tonight.”
While the Red Wolves grabbed only one more rebound than the Trojans, 20-19, the Red Wolves scored 28 second-chance points. Arkansas State also was more successful at the charity stripe, scoring 61.5 percent while Troy made only 40 percent of its free throws.
The Trojans are now 11-7 (6-3) and are in fourth place in the Sun Belt Conference.
The Trojans take on the ULM Warhawks on Thursday, Jan. 29, in Trojan Arena at 5:15 p.m. and play UT Arlington in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 31.
