MONROE, La. (Interstat) — Zay Dyer scored 24 points and Troy used a dominant third-quarter surge to overcome a sloppy start and defeat Louisiana-Monroe 86-80 in a Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

The Trojans, who entered the game with the conference’s top record, improved to 14-3 overall. The Warhawks fell to 7-9.

The most critical phase of the contest came in the third period, where Troy transformed a narrow 33-30 halftime deficit into a commanding lead. After a back-and-forth first half featuring 10 lead changes and 24 combined turnovers, the Trojans found their rhythm. They opened the second half on a 15-6 run, fueled by aggressive defense that generated steals and transition opportunities. Troy outscored Louisiana-Monroe 28-22 in the quarter, taking a 58-55 lead into the final period and never relinquishing it.

Dyer, a 6-foot-2 guard from Atlanta, was instrumental throughout, adding three assists and a block to her game-high point total. She was supported by Ashley Baez, who had 15 points and five assists, and Rachel Leggett, who contributed 14 points. Fortuna Ngnawo added 12 points, four assists and a block for a balanced Troy attack.

Louisiana-Monroe was led by a stellar performance from Nakiyah Mays-Prince. The 5-foot-5 guard from Chicago poured in 23 points and dished out four assists, keeping the Warhawks within striking distance. J’Mani Ingram provided a significant boost off the bench with 18 points, while Asjah Inniss chipped in 13.

Despite the loss, the Warhawks held advantages in several categories, including offensive rebounds (12-10) and free-throw percentage, where they shot 80% on 12-of-15 shooting. Troy struggled at the line, making only 13 of 27 attempts.

The difference came from Troy’s defensive pressure and more efficient scoring. The Trojans forced 19 turnovers, converting them into 21 points, and outscored Louisiana-Monroe 46-40 in the paint. Troy also shot 50.7% from the field (34 of 67) compared to the Warhawks’ 40.3% (31 of 77).

The game began at a frantic pace with both teams struggling to maintain possession. Louisiana-Monroe built an early 18-12 lead after the first quarter, capitalizing on eight Troy turnovers. The Warhawks extended their lead to seven points midway through the second quarter before Troy closed the gap to three by halftime.

Troy’s third-quarter explosion proved decisive. The Trojans tightened their defense, limiting second chances and creating easier offensive looks. They pushed their lead to as many as nine points in the fourth quarter. Each time Louisiana-Monroe mounted a challenge, with Mays-Prince and Ingram hitting key shots, Troy answered. A driving layup by Dyer with 2:52 remaining gave Troy a 77-75 lead, and the Trojans made enough free throws down the stretch to secure the six-point victory.

The announced attendance was 1,128.

Troy next travels to face Texas State on Saturday. Louisiana-Monroe will host Louisiana-Lafayette, also on Saturday.