Championship Central Page | Box Score

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Troy University's 11th-straight win captured the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Championship, presented by First Bank & Trust, and punched its ticket to the NCAA National Tournament. After an overtime win in the quarterfinals and a three-point win to survive the semifinals, Troy defeated West Division No. 1 seed Louisiana, 73-65, in Pensacola Bay Center on Monday to win its third Sun Belt Tournament title since 2016. 

"I think they keep getting sweeter. Every one is special. The thought that we get to represent this conference in the NCAA Tournament, it's just overwhelming the gratitude I feel. We really want to get out there and show what a great conference we have and be a great representative of the Sun Belt Conference and Troy University in the NCAA Tournament," said Troy coach Chanda Rigby.

The Trojans' championship comes one year after having their title hopes abruptly come to an end when the 2020 tournament was suspended due to COVID-19. They were the No. 1 seed last year awaiting a semifinal matchup with Louisiana at the time.  

"I'm so joyful right now, but there is a part of me that grieves a little because we didn't get to experience this with the five seniors last year. They didn't get a chance to do this. I'm not sure we would have done this today (without them). Those players pushed these players every year. I'm glad we finished this for them."

Troy guard Jasmine Robinson opened the game with a second-chance 3-pointer 14 seconds into the game and Troy never lost the lead. Robinson went on to lead the Trojans with 17 points, including three 3-pointers, and dished out nine assists to secure a spot on the Sun Belt All-Tournament Team.

Louisiana struggled in the first quarter, making 3-of-19 shots (15.8%) to be out-scored 14-7 in the first 10 minutes of action. Troy worked its lead up to 15 points, 32-17 late in the half before carrying a 36-22 into halftime.

"There would never be an easy championship against Louisiana Lafayette and Garry Braodhead. They had a great plan. A lot of people thought if they could keep our two post players in low (scoring ) numbers, then they'd have a chance, and they did," Rigby said. "Louisiana had a good game plan and really executed it well. It was the people who came off the bench that enabled us to have a lead at halftime."

Troy scored 13 of its 28 first-points off the bench, including seven by Jhileiya Dunlapo and four by Tyasia Moore. Emely Rosario dished out two assists in her five minutes of action in the opening half.  

The Ragin' Cajuns did not let their championship hopes and 15-game win streak fade easily. Louisiana shot 58.8% in the second half, while holding Troy to 34.8%. A 15-point Troy lead was cut to seven after a 3-pointer by Ty'Reona Doucet. Louisiana continued to attack, making it a 3-point game, 56-53, on a Brandi Williams 3-pointer with 8:45 to play, but Troy responded with an 8-0 run to push its lead back to 11.  

Alexus Dye, who was named the Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player, was held to 11 points after scoring 37 and 20 in the previous two games. She continued to dominate the glass with 14 rebounds. Fellow post player Felmas Koranga scored 12 points and had a career-high 22 rebounds to lead all players. Tiyah Johnson scored 11 for Troy.

"Without rebounds, we probably wouldn't win this game. Rebounds is a key thing in what we do every game," Dye said.

Troy out-rebounded Louisiana 58-40, and nearly matched the Ragin' Cajuns on rebounds off the Troy basket. Troy had 24 offensive rebounds to Louisiana's 28 defensive boards.  

Doucet and Skyler Goodwin scored 14 apiece for Louisiana. Goodwin added 10 rebounds for a double-double. Jomyra Mathis had 13 points and five assists, while Williams finished with 12 points and an All-Tournament Team honor. 

Troy (22-5) awaits its seeding in the NCAA National Tournament, while Louisiana (16-6) keeps its hopes open for a postseason opportunity.

"We've got to fight the battle to stay safe, and remain COVID free," Rigby said. "This championship will not be celebrated like a normal championship out in the public. We will stay in our bubble and stay focused. We have to get rested and recuperated ... We want to be the most prepared team peaking at the right time when we get to that tournament, so we still have a lot to push for."

The 2021 Sun Belt Men's and Women's Basketball Championship featured a 12-team field for its first year in a five-year partnership with Pensacola Sports, in collaboration with the Pensacola Bay Center, Pensacola State College and Visit Pensacola. It was the first Sun Belt Conference tournament in the Sunshine State for the first time since the 1988 tournament at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida. 


 2021 SUN BELT ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM