Troy falls to Kent State in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge

Troy’s fourth-quarter rally couldn’t break through Kent State as it takes the first loss in Trojan Arena, 84-73, on Saturday afternoon.

The loss drops the Trojans (15-10, 9-3 SBC) to 7-1 in Trojan Arena, ending the second-best home start in head coach Chanda Rigby’s tenure, and 1-3 in the MAC-SBC Challenge. Meanwhile, the Golden Flashes (16-8, 8-3 MAC) improved to 2-2 in the second year of the challenge.

Fortuna Ngnawo erupted on her 22nd birthday with 25 points to tie Zay Dyer for the highest scoring performance by a Trojan in 2024-25 – the 25 points also set a career-high in her first 20-plus point performance. The Cameroon native also converted 12-of-18 from the field for the first 10-plus field goals made game since Dyer against Coastal Carolina (Jan. 2). Ashley Baez (11) and Emani Jenkins (14) joined Ngnawo in double-figures for the 18th and seventh time in 2024-25, respectively. Baez also led the team with three steals, while Jenkins had her fifth game with 3-plus triples.

Janae Tyler delivered the most points of any individual player in 2024-25 against Troy with 28 points on 13-of-21 from the field. No. 34 also had three steals, six rebounds and an assist. Four of Kent State’s starters ended with 10-plus points: Jenna Batsch – 18, Bridget Dunn – 16 and Mya Babbitt – 12. The Golden Flashes became the fourth team to outrebound the Trojans, 44-42, as they shot 47.9 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep on 10 made triples.

Kent State capitalized on a slow start by the Trojans as it ballooned the margin to 15, 21-6, through the first six minutes. Jenkins broke through for Troy when she banged in her first triple, 21-9, with 3:40 remaining.

Both sides exchanged two points, 23-11, before Briana Peguero took the pass from Baez and hit from behind the arc to bring it within single digits, 23-14. After Taylor boosted the margin to 12 off a second-chance layup, Ngnawo recorded back-to-back buckets to end the first quarter down eight, 27-19.

The Golden Flashes got a pair of free throws to open the second, 29-19. Jenkins responded with her second triple of the day, off a Dyer assist. Tyler missed her next shot for the Golden Flashes, opening the door for Emma Imevbore inside, 29-24 – 7:58 left in the second.

Troy clawed back after Tyler made the layup, and Babbitt hit a triple to regain a 10-point lead, 34-24, 1:00 later. An offensive rebound allowed Jenkins to hit from deep, and Ngnawo followed with a lay-in to recut the margin to five, 34-29, with 6:02 left. The comeback continued when Troy cut the margin to three on two occasions when Khila Morris made the layup off a fastbreak turnover, 36-33, and Ngnawo converted her 11th point on a jumper, 38-35.

Kent State took control after Nganwo’s bucket and outscored the Trojans 28-15 over the next 12 minutes to hold a 66-50 lead with 0:40 left in the third on a triple by Batsch. Ngnawo ended the third quarter with a jumper outside the paint, 66-52, which flipped the momentum to Troy to open the fourth.

After a scoreless 3:13 in the fourth, Troy kept the momentum going when Brianna Jackson hit both shots at the line, and Baez dropped a triple, 66-57. The 0-of-4 start in the fourth continued for Kent State, allowing Baez to convert the lay-in, 66-59 – 6:05 on the clock.

A brief 5-3 run for Kent State that ended on a triple for Dunn gave the opposition a 71-62 advantage with 4:35 on the clock. Peguero and Ngnawo responded with an and-one and jumper, respectively, to make it a four-point game, 71-67, with 3:45 left.

Batsch matched the Troy rally with a triple, 74-67, which changed the momentum for the final time. The MAC foe would keep Troy to just two makes at the line and a jumper from Adriana Jones and Baez in the final three minutes while it ballooned the lead to 15, 84-69, on a free throw from Tyler en route to an 84-73 win.