The Troy women’s basketball program kept its postseason dreams alive with two straight wins in the WNIT over North Carolina A&T and Sun Belt Conference rivals ULM to advance to the competition’s semifinal stage.
The Trojans advanced to the ‘Great 8’ of the WNIT after an 89-75 victory over A&T on the road at the Corbett Sports Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. The win marked Troy’s second-ever postseason victory following their Round Two 92-62 triumph over FIU at Trojan Arena the week before.
“I want to thank all the Trojan Fans who watched us tonight,” Troy head coach Chanda Rigby said. “Whether you were in that arena cheering us on or packing Baumhower's Victory Grille in Troy.
“This was such a tremendous feat and a great night. Today is Good Friday. We took the message that Good Friday didn't start good but ended good as a theme for our team. Our season didn't start great, but we are having good things happen now.
“I'm beyond thankful for our staff, players and administration because it wouldn't be possible without them.”
Senior Makayia ‘Mae Mae’ Hallmon – who earned All-Sun Belt Third Team Honors – led all scorers with 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting with three assists and three steals.
Senior Tai’Sheka Porchia – who was named to the All-Sun Belt First Team – notched 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting with eight rebounds, while senior Ja’Mia ‘Stixx’ Hollings – who took home All-Sun Belt Second Team honors – went 7-for-14 from the floor and added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
As a team, Troy shot 35-for-72 from the floor and 7-for-16 from beyond the arc.
The hosts were not as efficient from downtown as they went 3-for-22 while shooting 30-for-75 overall. Jordyn Dorsey led the way for the Aggies with 18 points on 7-for-19 shooting, while Chaniya Clark tallied 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting with 10 rebounds.
The Trojans then toppled ULM in the ‘Great 8’ with the same exact score of their previous victory, 89-75, to advance to the ‘Fabulous 4’ of the WNIT to face off against the BIG 10’s Minnesota at Trojan Arena.
“What a night in Trojan Arena,” Rigby said postgame. “We made history again, we made history again.
“We’re very thankful for everybody in Trojan Arena tonight. We’re having a special moment here, we’re having a special season. We’re trying real hard to represent this university with a national championship, but it’s just one game at a time and this was a tough one.”
Hollings led the way for Troy, notching 22 points and 16 rebounds for her sixth straight double-double shooting 9-for-22 from the floor.
“I think the harder you work, practice and prepare for the game, the more ready you’re gonna be,” Hollings said. “I just go hard every day, I love the game so I’m passionate about it so I go out there and have fun and do what I do.”
The Trojans shot 32-for-74 from the floor and 5-for-15 from downtown, while the Warhawks shot 26-for-72 overall and 10-for-32 from beyond the arc.
Daisha Bradford led all players with 31 points, shooting 12-for-27 from the field and 3-for-10 from three-point range.
“We talked about before the game that in the big moments in March Madness, which we’re now past and now in April. But those big moments, everybody watches their TV sets for those exciting moments that sell tickets, but those aren’t the moments that win in these championship moments,” said Rigby.
“It’s the little things, it’s springing back on defense, it’s getting the stop. It’s sacrificing yourself in ways that people don’t see and don’t show up on the stat sheet and that’s what I saw our team winning tonight.”
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