Women's basketball beats MVSU in rout to go 2-0 at home

The Troy women's basketball program continued its hot start to the 2025-26 season, securing a commanding 95-50 win over Mississippi Valley State on Thursday afternoon at Trojan Arena.  

The victory, which followed a season-opening win over Toledo, marks the first 2-0 start for the Trojans since 2022-23 and the fifth under head coach Chanda Rigby. 

The Trojans forced a massive 35 turnovers that were converted into 39 points. The Troy defense was stifling, holding the Devilettes to just 31.8%shooting and controlling the glass with a 53-41 rebounding advantage. 

"It's a great day in Trojan Arena, and we thank everyone who came out. It's great to start 2-0 and create this momentum," said head coach Chanda Rigby. "That's what we talked about in the locker room before the game.  

“We were trying to build momentum with a win today, and we did that. Despite coming out a little slow, we built momentum throughout the game.” 

The offensive effort was headlined by Fortuna Ngnawo, who tallied her second career 20-plus point game with 22 points. It earned her the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week award to start the season. 

Ngnawo tied her career-high of four blocks, a feat she also achieved in the season opener against Toledo, showcasing her impact on both ends of the floor. 

Perhaps the biggest standout of the day was freshman guard Saniya Jackson, who came off the bench to pour in 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting, four rebounds and two steals in just 16 minutes of play. The Trojans demonstrated commitment to defense with eight players recording multiple steals, led by Kamesha Moore's five. 

"Our freshmen and newcomers-built momentum individually, especially with Jackson at 17 points,” Rigby said. “What an honor it is to have her here, doing what she's already doing as a freshman. 

“Fortuna, she's doing so much for us, especially with back-to-back games with four blocks." 

The game decisively turned in the second quarter. With the score only 18-17, Troy launched an 18-0 run over the first five minutes of the period, holding the Devilettes scoreless. This run was fueled by relentless defense and fast-break offense involving Ngnawo, Moore, Rachel Leggett and Jackson. 

Highlights included a Ngnawo steal and score, a Moore three-pointer off a Leggett steal, and back-to-back deep shots from Jackson. The Trojans outscored Mississippi Valley State 25-9 in the second quarter and shot 40.9 percent from the field, heading into the break with an insurmountable lead. 

The advantage grew to as much as 22 points in the second and ballooned further in the third, ending the quarter with Troy up 77-41 thanks to back-to-back triples from Emani Jenkins. The defense capped the performance by holding Mississippi Valley State to just nine points in the final 10 minutes. 

With the victory, Troy now holds a 4-3 all-time series lead over Mississippi Valley State and recorded its first-ever home win against the program. The team will now look to maintain its early season momentum as it prepares for its next opponent. 

"We had two crazy battles with Chattanooga last season,” Rigby said. “Now, we can't go backwards.  

“We have to keep this momentum going into that game." 

After taking on Chattanooga at home, the Trojans hit the road for a Power Four matchup against Kansas State. Troy faces the Wildcats at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 18.