Troy, Ala. – The Troy women’s basketball team is set to host Arkansas State, the defending Sun Belt Conference (SBC) champions, at Trojan Arena on Saturday, January 10, at 3:33 p.m. This matchup follows a season in which Arkansas State swept Troy and ended their conference tournament run in the semifinals.
Currently, Troy holds a record of 12-3 overall and 3-1 in SBC play, tying for fourth place in the conference standings. Arkansas State leads the conference with a 14-3 overall record and an undefeated 5-0 mark in league games. Historically, Troy has had success against Arkansas State, winning 13 of the previous 14 meetings before last season’s sweep.
Saturday’s game will feature Kid’s Day and the O’s Cool Bikes event. Promotions include giveaways such as T-Roy coloring books for the first 100 children and beanies for the first 100 fans aged 13 and up. Children under 12 receive free admission and can participate in pregame activities on the practice court. O’s Cool Bike will hold a halftime demonstration.
Troy enters this contest after defeating Texas State with a score of 84-49. In that game, Troy’s defense limited Texas State to under 50 points for the first time this season, holding them to just 28.6 percent shooting from the field and only five successful three-pointers out of thirty-five attempts. The Trojans dominated rebounding with a season-high total of 64 boards.
Zay Dyer achieved her eighth double-double of the season against Texas State with 19 points and ten rebounds. She surpassed Donette McNair for most career rebounds at Division I level during that game. Dyer currently leads the Sun Belt Conference in several categories including total rebounds (177), defensive rebounds per game (7.4), offensive rebounds per game (4.4), and rebounds per game (11.8). She also ranks among SBC leaders in blocks and field goal percentage.
The Red Wolves arrive on a twelve-game win streak and are one of two SBC teams still unbeaten in league play this year. In nonconference action, they recorded wins over Houston from the Big-12 Conference and Arkansas from the SEC. While ranking eighth in three-point percentage within the conference at 31.2 percent, Arkansas State averages more than ten made threes per game—second highest nationally.
Troy holds a home record of ten wins to six losses against Arkansas State but lost all three meetings last season despite previously dominating recent matchups between these programs.
Chanda Rigby is approaching significant coaching milestones: she needs eight more victories to become Troy’s all-time winningest coach with her current total standing at 267; she is also five wins away from reaching her career milestone of five hundred victories.
Fortuna Ngnawo leads Troy’s scoring with an average of fifteen points per game while maintaining one of the top field goal percentages in conference play at nearly forty-seven percent.
Nationally recognized for rebounding prowess over recent seasons, Troy currently ranks second among Division I teams averaging just over fifty rebounds per contest.
Additional team highlights include Emani Jenkins’ performance from beyond the arc—she has made forty-five three-pointers across her last twelve games—and Rachel Leggett’s consistent double-digit scoring contributions recently.
Other notable achievements involve breaking single-game records for points scored (132), three-pointers made (20), and assists (36) during their win over Oakwood earlier this season.
The Trojans have also won three consecutive in-season tournaments: Austin Peay Christmas Classic (2023), Great Alaska Shootout (2024), and Resorts World Las Vegas Classic (2025).
“Zay Dyer claimed her eighth double-double with nineteen points and ten rebounds,” according to team statistics released following their latest victory.
“Chanda Rigby sits eight wins away from becoming the winningest coach in Troy history,” stated official team notes regarding upcoming milestones.
Fans can watch Saturday’s matchup live on ESPN+ or listen via Troy Sports Radio Network; live statistics are available through troytrojans.com/livestats.
