Troy receives first round bye in upcoming WNIT, Rigby a Hall of Famer
Published 9:30 am Tuesday, March 19, 2024
- Troy will play in the WNIT against the winner of Stetson and FIU later this month. (Photo courtesy of Troy University Athletics)
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The Troy Trojans women’s basketball team saw their season get new life this weekend by accepting a bid to play in the 2024 WNIT. Troy, with a record of 21-9 on the season, also received a bye in the first round.
This is Troy’s first postseason bid since playing in the 2022 WNIT against Alabama in the first round.
“We are thankful that we were selected to represent Troy in this national tournament,” head coach Chanda Rigby said. “Our goal is to, first, be the first women’s basketball team from Troy to win a game in a national tournament. Then, we want to fight our way through the bracket and win the championship.”
Troy will play in the second round against the winner of FIU and Stetson, who play on March 20 in Miami, Fla. The date for the second round matchup will be announced after that game along with time and location. The second round will be scheduled between March 23-26.
Other teams featured in this year’s WNIT are UAB, Southern Miss, Eastern Kentucky, Purdue-Fort Wayne, Boise State, Montana, Murray State, Cincinnati, North Dakota State, Monmouth, Buffalo, Duquesne, Albany, Colgate, Providence, Bowling Green, Butler, Purdue, Charleston, USC-Upstate, Illionis State, Northern Colorado, UTSA, Wyoming, St. Louis, Central Arkansas, Northern Iowa, Grambling, Oral Roberts, Louisiana-Monroe, UIC, Southern Indiana, Wisconsin, Cal Poly, Pacific, Minnesota, Le Moyne, Niagra, Vermont, UNC-Greensboro, North Carolina A&T, Old Dominion, UC Riverside, South Dakota and Northern Arizona.
Troy goes into the WNIT as the nation’s leading rebounding team and are one of just two Sun Belt teams to average more than 80 points per game this season.
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Troy coach Chanda Rigby earned her 450th career win this season. (Photo courtesy of Troy University Athletics)
Troy Head Coach Chanda Rigby is coming off a big week herself after being inducted into the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) Sports Hall of Fame. Rigby coached Pensacola State College from 2005 through 2012, before coming to Troy. She held an eye-popping 153-64 record over her seven seasons with two FCSAA Championships, two NJCAA Tournament third place finishes, two Panhandle Coach of the Year and two FCSAA Coach of the Year honors.
“This honor will forever be special to me as it will serve to remind me of the relationships I built, the amazing athletes I was blessed to coach, and the wonderful memories I made while working in the Florida College System Activities Association,” Rigby said.