HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering momentum shift, the Troy women’s basketball team erased a 17-point second-quarter deficit to edge Marshall 85-82 in a pivotal Sun Belt Conference clash on Wednesday night at Cam Henderson Center.

The victory improved Troy to 17-3 overall, while Marshall fell to 17-6.

The contest appeared to be slipping away from the visiting Trojans midway through the second period. Marshall, fueled by a dominant 31-point quarter, built a commanding 52-35 lead with under a minute to play before halftime. The Thundering Herd’s offense, led by a spectacular first-half performance from guard Timaya Lewis-Eutsey, was efficient and explosive, while Troy struggled to find consistency.

The most important part of the game, however, was the dramatic and immediate response from Troy to open the second half. The Trojans emerged from the locker room with a devastating 19-2 run, completely flipping the script in less than five minutes. The surge tied the game at 54-54 and was powered by stifling defense that forced a series of Marshall turnovers, which Troy converted into easy transition baskets.

That third-quarter blitz set the tone for the remainder of the game. Troy outscored Marshall 30-13 in the period, turning the 17-point deficit into a 62-65 lead heading into the final frame. The Trojans’ defense held the Herd to just 5-of-22 shooting from the field in the quarter.

The fourth quarter was a tense, back-and-forth affair featuring eight lead changes. Troy finally seized control for good with a 7-0 run, capped by a Fortuna Ngnawo jump shot assisted by Ashley Baez, to take an 80-75 lead with 1:57 remaining.

Marshall had a chance to tie in the final seconds. After a Troy turnover, the Herd had possession down 85-82 with 4.4 seconds left. Following a timeout, Marshall inbounded the ball to Meredith Maier, but her contested three-point attempt from the top of the key missed as time expired.

Lewis-Eutsey was phenomenal in defeat for Marshall, finishing with 33 points, 10 assists and two blocks in 35 minutes. Ni’Kiah Chesterfield added 14 points for the Herd.

Troy’s victory was a balanced effort. Ngnawo, a forward from Bafoussam, Cameroon, recorded a double-double with 21 points and a game-high 18 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass. Guard Ashley Baez of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, scored 18 points and dished out five assists. Forward Zay Dyer from Atlanta contributed 17 points, and Rachel Leggett added 10 points off the bench.

A key statistical disparity came on the offensive boards, where Troy’s 18-8 advantage led to 18 second-chance points. The Trojans also shot 84.6% from the free-throw line, making 11 of 13, while Marshall connected on just 11 of 19.

Despite the loss, Marshall won the turnover battle, forcing 18 Troy giveaways which they converted into 20 points. Both teams scored 44 points in the paint in a game that featured nearly identical offensive efficiency ratings.

The announced attendance was 1,510.

Troy will look to build on the comeback win when it travels to face Coastal Carolina on Saturday. Marshall will aim to rebound at home against Louisiana-Lafayette, also on Saturday.