JONESBORO, Ark. (Interstat) — In a pivotal Sun Belt Conference clash that tightened the league’s regular-season race, the Troy women’s basketball team weathered a determined second-half rally from Arkansas State to secure a 61-54 victory on Tuesday night at Convocation Center.

The win, Troy’s fifth straight, improved the Trojans to 24-4 overall and solidified their hold atop the conference standings. Arkansas State, which had won eight of its last nine entering the game, fell to 22-8.

The contest was defined by a stark contrast in halves. Troy, the visiting team, imposed its will early, leveraging its defensive intensity and balanced scoring to build a commanding lead. The Trojans opened the game on a 13-2 run, stifling the Red Wolves’ offense with active hands and contested shots. Troy led 20-12 after the first quarter and extended its advantage to 37-26 by halftime, showcasing the form that produced an 86-64 win over Arkansas State just six weeks prior.

The Trojans’ first-half success was a collective effort. Forward Fortuna Ngnawo of Bafoussam, Cameroon, set a physical tone inside, while guard Emani Jenkins of Dallas provided perimeter scoring. Jenkins hit two first-quarter three-pointers as part of her 11-point night. Center Zay Dyer of Atlanta was a persistent force in the paint, contributing to Troy’s early dominance on the glass and in scoring around the basket.

However, the game’s most critical phase emerged after halftime. Arkansas State, playing in front of its home crowd, mounted a fierce comeback in the third quarter. The Red Wolves switched to a more aggressive defensive scheme, disrupting Troy’s rhythm and capitalizing on Trojan turnovers. Sparked by the dynamic play of guard Zyion Shannon of Smyrna, Tennessee, Arkansas State outscored Troy 17-9 in the period.

Shannon, who finished with a game-high 15 points, attacked the rim relentlessly, and her backcourt mate Crislyn Rose of Sachse, Texas, chipped in with 12 points. A three-pointer from Mia Tarver of Salt Lake City, Utah, who scored 11, capped the surge and brought the Red Wolves within three points at 43-40 heading into the final quarter. The once-comfortable Troy lead had nearly evaporated under the pressure of Arkansas State’s renewed vigor.

The fourth quarter evolved into a tense, defensive struggle. Both teams traded baskets and stops for the first several minutes. With the outcome hanging in the balance, Troy’s experience and composure proved decisive. Leading by just four points with under three minutes to play, the Trojans executed a crucial sequence to seal the game.

After a defensive stop, Troy worked the ball inside to Dyer, who was fouled and converted one of two free throws to push the lead to five. On the ensuing Arkansas State possession, the Red Wolves’ Wynter Rogers of Little Rock committed an offensive foul, handing the ball back to Troy. The Trojans then ran a precise set resulting in a driving layup by Rachel Leggett, extending the lead to seven with just over two minutes remaining.

Arkansas State could not counter. Shannon missed a layup on the next trip, and Troy’s defense clamped down, forcing two more empty possessions from the Red Wolves. In the final minute, Troy guard Ashley Baez iced the game by calmly sinking four consecutive free throws to account for the final margin.

While Shannon led all scorers, Troy’s interior duo of Ngnawo and Dyer each tallied 14 points, with Ngnawo adding two blocks and Dyer contributing a key block of her own. Jenkins’ 11 points provided essential perimeter scoring. For Arkansas State, beyond Shannon and Rose, Tarver’s 11 points and a combined 12 points from reserves Mimi McCollister of Athens, Texas, and Bella Weary of Jacksonville, Florida, fueled the comeback attempt that ultimately fell short.

The victory gives Troy a season sweep of Arkansas State and a significant edge in the Sun Belt standings with the regular season winding down. The Trojans travel to face South Alabama on Friday. Arkansas State, which saw its four-game winning streak snapped, will look to regroup at home against Texas State, also on Friday.