by TROY, Alabama – After a strong finish to pick up a win on Tuesday, the Troy women’s basketball team continues a busy stretch on Friday at UAB. The Trojans and Blazers will tip at 7 p.m. at Bartow Arena in the second of three road games in just six days for the Trojans.
Links to live video, live stats and free live audio can be found at TroyTrojans.com. Fans in Troy can also hear the game on WTBF 94.7 FM. For live in-game updates on Twitter, follow @TroyTrojansWBB.
Troy (4-3) will be looking for a second straight road victory after winning at Alabama State on Tuesday, 73-59. Troy trailed by nine late in the third quarter, but held ASU without a field goal in the fourth quarter and outscored the Hornets, 23-5, in the final frame.
Troy forced Alabama State into 25 turnovers and outscored the Hornets in points off turnovers, 33-8. Troy has forced every opponent into at least 17 turnovers this season and ranks second in the NCAA, forcing an average of 25.1 turnovers per game.
The turnovers help the Trojans rank fourth in the NCAA in scoring at 86.1 points per game, over 16.0 points ahead of the second highest scoring team in the Sun Belt. Troy also leads the league in field goal percentage, assist-turnover ratio and steals.
Individually, Ashley Beverly Kelley led the Trojans with 19 points, nine rebounds and five steals at Alabama State. The senior Mid-Major All-American ranks third in the Sun Belt in scoring at 18.0 points per game. She will be playing in her 100th career game on Friday in what will also be Chanda Rigby‘s 100th game as Troy’s head coach. Beverly Kelley is the only Trojan in play in every game coached by Rigby at Troy.
Caitlyn Ramirez (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma) ranks second on the team at 12.0 points per game and is coming off of 12 points, nine rebounds and four steals at Alabama State. The versatile junior ranks in the Sun Belt’s top three in field goal, 3-point field goal and free throw percentage and is the only player in the league to rank even in the top 10.
UAB (5-4) comes in having won three straight, including a 53-39 win at South Alabama last Sunday. The Blazers are 3-0 at home and lead C-USA in scoring defense, giving up just 54.1 points per game. UAB also leads the league with a +11.4 per game rebounding margin.
Freshman Deanna Kuzmanic and senior Chelsee Black average double-figure points for the Blazers at 12.4 and 11.6 per game, respectively. However, Black did not play at South Alabama. Senior Brittany Winborne averages 9.2 rebounds per game to lead C-USA to go along with 9.0 points per game.
UAB leads the all-time series over Troy, 6-2, but the two sides haven’t met since 2002. The eight meetings are the second fewest against any in-state Division I opponent for Troy. The Trojans are 1-4 in Birmingham, including a win in that 2002 game.
Following Friday night’s game, the Trojans will close non-conference play at Southeastern Louisiana on Monday.
