The Troy Trojans are back in the NCAA Tournament with Sun Belt title secured

What better way to celebrate International Women’s Day than with a conference championship?

Troy never trailed in the Sun Belt title game and put a timely end to Louisiana’s 15-game win streak with a 73-65 victory in Pensacola. The win gives the Trojans their first automatic bid to the NCAA tournament since 2017.

Frontcourt duo Alexus Dye and Felmas Koranga led the way with a double-double each. Koranga scored 12 points with a career-high 22 rebounds while Dye poured in 11 points plus 14 rebounds for her nation-leading 22nd double-double. Jasmine Robinson was the Trojans’ leading scorer with 17 points and nine assists in 39 minutes on the floor.

Troy’s primary scorers, Koranga and likely conference player of the year Dye, were held in check for much of the first half. Robinson and several bench pieces stepped up and gave Troy the boost it needed to create an early lead.

Of Robinson’s 17 points, 12 of them came in the first half on five of 10 shooting. Tyasia Moore and Jhileiya Dunlap scored seven points each off the bench.

“A lot of people felt like if they kept our two post players into low number that would be their chance,” Rigby said after the game. “And they did. Alexus didn’t really have a lot of points in the first half. I think they really focused on her and it left other people open. I can’t say enough about the people who came off the bench… They came in, especially in the first half, and really did their jobs.”

Despite being the center of attention this weekend, Dye is leaving Pensacola with conference tournament MVP honors after averaging 22.7 points and 15 rebounds in the tournament.

Troy outrebounded Louisiana 58-40 and 24-12 on the offensive glass, resulting in a staggering 24-2 advantage in second chance points. When asked how difficult it was to rebound against Troy after the game, Louisiana head coach Garry Brodhead quickly brushed off the question with “no comment.”

This is Troy’s third tournament title since 2016. The Trojans are still searching for their first NCAA tourney win in school history. As of Sunday night, ESPN projected the Sun Belt automatic qualifier a 15-seed in the River Walk region against Baylor.

The selection show is next Monday night at 6:00 pm CT.