Trojans reach historic milestones with 2-0 week

The Troy Trojans cemented their status as the class of the Sun Belt Conference this week, turning a historic homestand into a masterclass in record-breaking and resilience.

After witnessing head coach Chanda Rigby claim the throne as the winningest coach in program history with an 71-55 win over Louisiana, the Trojans survived an 82-80 Valentine’s Day heart-stopper against ULM to remain tied for first place in the conference. 

The week was a showcase of a team that doesn't just win games; they rewrite history books in the process. 

"We talk nearly every day about trying to break records or trying to do things that other people do not think are possible," Rigby said. "Every time something happens that has never been done before... we are going to celebrate it.” 

Thursday night at Trojan Arena was a coronation. Troy dismantled Louisiana 71-55, securing win No. 275 for Rigby and officially moving her past Joyce Sorrell for the most wins in program history. The night was bolstered by Zay Dyer’s legendary performance on the glass, as she hauled in 25 rebounds to set a new Troy Division I single-game record. 

The victory served as a milestone not just for the coach, but for a program that has seen Rigby produce ten different 20-win seasons during her tenure. 

"I just can't thank our administration enough for taking the time to honor this accomplishment," Rigby said.. "If you dream big and set a realistic goal and plan how to get there... you can accomplish what you want." 

The celebration was brief, however, as the Trojans had to pivot to a Saturday thriller against a surging ULM squad. In a game of shifting momentums, Troy saw a 15-point halftime lead evaporate in the fourth quarter. The Warhawks utilized an 11-0 run to take a late lead, forcing the Trojans to rely on their veteran poise to avoid the upset. 

The game came down to the final four seconds, where Fortuna Ngnawo drew a foul and sank two ice-cold free throws to clinch the 82-80 victory. 

"It was a good day in Trojan Arena and we're grateful to come out with the win," Rigby said after the ULM nail-biter. "Even when we had a 15-point lead, I knew it wasn't enough.  

“This is the hottest team in the Sun Belt we've played." 

Ngnawo’s heroics were part of a massive 24-point, 11-rebound double-double, but she wasn't alone in the effort. For the second time in three games, all five Troy starters reached double figures. Emani Jenkins continued her historic shooting season, draining five triples against the Warhawks, while Zay Dyer extended her national lead with her 10th consecutive double-double. 

The Trojans also showcased a new level of discipline, shooting a season-high 90 percent from the free-throw line to counteract 20 turnovers forced by ULM’s defense. 

"We work on those special situations, but it's almost impossible to mimic that urgency in practice," Rigby said regardingthe final play. "They executed it—got the ball to Fortuna, she turned, tried to draw a foul, and it worked perfectly." 

With a 21-5 record and an 11-game home winning streak against ULM intact, the Trojans now look toward the final stretch of the regular season. Their dominance on the boards remains the team’s calling card, as they continue to lead the nation in rebounding while maintaining a perfect record in conference games where they lose the opening tip. 

The Trojans continue their homestand this Wednesday at 6 p.m. as they play host to in-state rival South Alabama in a critical conference clash.