Women’s basketball starts long road stretch in Buffalo
Troy women’s basketball starts its 2024-25 campaign with a new-look roster and loaded schedule, only returning three players from a historical 2023-24 team that saw the team get their first post season win in Division I history.
The Trojans bring in a new look on the court and the sideline, as Grace Daniels joins the coaching staff from Houston Christian. The San Antonio, Texas, native spent time as a graduate assistant at ULM before Houston Christian.
“We’re beyond excited to have Grace Daniels join our Troy women’s basketball family,” said Coach Rigby in an interview with Troy Athletics, “Her former bosses have described her as an absolute rising star in the profession.”
As for players, the three returning players from the 2023-24 squad are junior forward Zay Dyer and senior guards Shaulana Wagner and Leilani Guion.
Wagner and Dyers were both named to preseason all-Sun Belt teams -- Wagner made second team all-conference, and Dyers made third team.
Out of the plethora of incoming players, four of them come from other Division I programs while the other five all come from JUCO programs across the country.
The four D-I transfers are senior guard Briana Peguero from Mercer, senior guard Ashley Baez from Florida Gulf Coast, senior forward Brianna Jackson from Oklahoma State, and lastly senior center Emma Imevbore who transfers in from Arkansas State.
On the JUCO side, the Trojans bring in three guards and two forwards to complete a guard heavy roster, a different look from last season’s team.
The three guards include Emani Jenkins, Adriana Jones and Khila Morris while the forwards consist of Fortuna Ngnawo and Jamirica Roberson.
With the additions of these players, the 2024-25 season sees a roster with no underclassmen, as every player is either a senior or junior.
The Trojans face the fire early on as they travel to Buffalo to open the season on Nov. 4. After that they go to play WNIT qualifier Montana State before an instate matchup with preseason No. 24 Alabama.
After a quick stop at UT-Chatanooga, they then travel to Baton Rouge to play preseason No. 7 LSU before hitting the road to Alaska.
Other marquee games on the schedule include hosting Memphis on Dec. 14 for their second home game and a potential matchup with Arkansas in the Cherokee Invitational during Christmas break.
The Trojans are poised for another great season in conference play as they are picked to finish second right behind James Madison. The Trojans received two first place votes.
After a month on the road, the Trojans return to Trojan Arena for their first home game of the season on Dec. 4 when they host Oakwood at noon.
Comments