TROY, ala. – The Troy women’s basketball program takes its 5-1 record into a two-game showdown at the Resorts World Las Vegas Classic, facing Texas Southern on Thursday, Nov. 27, and florida Gulf Coast on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Resorts World Arena. Both games tip off at 9:30 p.m.
The Resorts World Las Vegas Classic marks the lone in-season tournament for the Trojans (5-1) after a pair in 2024-25, when they won the Great alaska Shootout and finished third at the Cherokee Tournament.They will meet the Tigers (3-1) for the first time as 2006, when the Trojans claimed a 68-58 win. It’s also the third matchup wiht the Eagles (1-3) as the Trojans look for their first win in the series,down 0-2.
Game Data
Location: Las Vegas, Nev. – Resorts World Arena
Matchup: Troy (5-1) vs. Texas Southern (3-1) / Florida Gulf Coast (1-3)
When: Thursday, November 27 – 9:30 p.m. / Saturday, November 29 – 9:30 p.m.
Watch: Flo Sports
Listen: Troy Sports radio Network
Stats: troytrojans.com/livestats
stellar Start Continues
Troy is off to its best start since 2019-20 at 5-1 after surviving a late fourth-quarter comeback from Montana State in Trojan Arena on Monday night. Despite giving up 31 turnovers, the Trojans’ shot selection pushed them to victory. Troy shot 70 percent from the floor in quarters two and four to combine for a 59.5 shooting percentage. They also shot 61.5 percent from deep for their first time over 50 percent as Texas State (14-of-28) on Jan. 23, 2025.
Ngnawo continues to stand alone in double-figures in each game for 2025-26, continuing her scoring display from last year. She’s scored 10-plus points in 11 of her last 13 games.Zay Dyer is on a similar path with double figures in the scoring column in 18 of her last 19 games. both players had double-doubles against Montana State, with Dyer having 11 points and 15 rebounds, while Ngnawo had 19 points and 10 rebounds.
In-season tournaments have benefited the Trojans in recent memory,with a 41st Great Alaska Shootout Championship to their name from 2024-25. additionally, at the Cherokee Tournament, troy took down Arkansas for the team’s fourth-ever win over an SEC program – the Trojans most recently added Missouri to the list this season. In those tournaments, Dyer averaged 13.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, earning All-Tournament Team at the Great Alaska Shootout. Ashley Baez (10.5) and Ngnawo (13.5) also averaged double-digits for scoring.
Scouting Texas Southern
Texas southern is off to a 3-1 start with its lone loss coming to then-No.4 Texas, 111-45. Outside of that loss, the Tigers have beaten their opponents by double figures. Texas Southern leads the Southwestern athletic Conference in field goal percentage (43.4) and rebounds (49) for 77.8 points per game. Taliyah Logwood tops the Tigers in points (11.5), rebounds (9) and steals (2.5), while shooting 44.1 percent from the field.
Scouting Florida Gulf Coast
The Eagles look to turn their 1-3 start around with their first-year head coach, Raina Harmon.Their lone radiant spot statistically is 3-point defense, allowing just 20.7 percent from behind the arc to rank 11th in
Troy Women’s basketball: 2025-26 season Preview
Table of Contents
The Troy Trojans women’s basketball team enters the 2025-26 season following a historic run to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Championship game in 2024-25. Despite falling to Buffalo in the championship, the Trojans are poised for continued success, building on a foundation of strong rebounding, scoring, and a consistent coaching staff. This preview details the team’s key players,coaching structure,and recent achievements as they embark on a new season in the Sun Belt Conference.
Recent Achievements and Recognition
The Trojans have established themselves as a dominant force in the Sun Belt Conference. Last season, they led the nation in rebounds per game with an impressive 49.05 https://troytrojans.com/news/2024/3/26/womens-basketball-trojans-fall-to-buffalo-in-wnit-championship-game.aspx, a feat they’ve accomplished for seven consecutive years. They also topped the Sun Belt in scoring (80.1 points per game), blocks (4.7 per game), and assists (15.4 per game).
Early in the 2025-26 season,Fortuna Ngnawo earned the first Sun Belt Player of the Week honor on November 11th,averaging 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, four blocks, and 1.5 steals in the first two games. this early recognition signals a strong start for both Ngnawo and the team.
key Players and Roster
Troy’s 13-player roster features a blend of experienced returners and promising newcomers. Five players return from the previous season: Detavia Salter, Saniya Jackson, Shakirah Edwards, Kamesha Moore, and Jasmine Timmons. These returners contributed considerably to the team’s success in 2024-25, accounting for 55.7% of the team’s points, 50.3% of rebounds, 53.9% of steals, 40.5% of blocks, and 35.1% of assists.
Joining them are eight newcomers: Lana Koricanac, Rachel Leggett, and Marianah Achol.
Dyer has been recognized for her potential, earning Preseason all-Sun Belt First Team honors. This marks the fourth time in the last five seasons that Troy has had a player selected to the First Team preseason.
Coaching Stability
A key factor in Troy’s consistent performance is the stability of its coaching staff.For the first time since the 2021-22 season, head coach Chanda Rigby, along with associate head coach Jennifer Graf, and assistant coaches Stephanie Murphy and Grace Daniels, are returning for another season. This continuity allows for consistent player growth and strategic execution.
Looking Ahead
the Troy Trojans women’s basketball team has a strong foundation for continued success. With a talented roster, a stable coaching staff, and a history of dominating the Sun Belt Conference, they are well-positioned to make another strong run in the 2025-26 season. The team’s commitment to rebounding, scoring, and defensive play will be crucial as they aim to return to the WNIT Championship and compete for a conference title.
Key Takeaways:
* Troy reached the WNIT Championship game in the 2024-25 season.
* The Trojans led the nation in rebounding for the seventh consecutive year.
* Fortuna Ngnawo was named Sun Belt Player of the Week on November 11, 2025.
* The coaching staff remains unchanged from the previous season, providing stability and continuity.
* the team features a mix of experienced returners and promising newcomers.