Down one key starter, the Arkansas State Women’s basketball team hosted Troy University in a highly anticipated Sun Belt match up. The Red Wolves remain unbeaten the SBC with the 94-80 victory over the Trojans, improving their overall record to 18-3, which ties the 1992-93 team record for the program’s best start through 21 games.

“I think to say that this was a big win for our team would be an understatement,” A-State Head Coach Brian Boyer said. “As seasons go along, certain wins take more meaning and this is one of those because Troy is a really good team and this was battle and to get out of here with a victory against a team like Troy is a big reward.”

Senior, Khadija Brown-Haywood collected her third straight double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds, which were both team highs. Arkansas guards Jessica Flanery and Aundrea Gamble scored 22 and 21 points, while junior guard Brittany Fowler came off the bench to a 10. Flanery’s scoring was the second best of her career.

The Trojans were led by three players scoring in double digits, including Ashley Beverly Kelley with a team-high 32 points that were only one shy of her season high.

“From a team standpoint I thought weathering that second quarter was huge for us,” Boyer said. “With Khadija and Brittney Gill in foul trouble it was all we could do to keep things under the control. Then in the fourth quarter it was just a matter of stringing together three or four stops to stretch out the lead a little bit.”

Saturday’s match up consisted of seven ties and 20 lead changes with neither team holding more than a seven-point lead advantage at any point of the match-up.

In the third period Troy had a 71-70 lead over the Red wolves with 6:06 left in the fourth before Arkansas took the lead for the remainder of the game with a pair of Dominique Oliver free throws. Arkansas then went on a 14-2 extending the lead even more.

The run saw A-State score on five of its six possessions, including three pointers by Gamble and Flanery and old fashioned three-point plays by Lauren Bradshaw and Brown-Haywood, who scored 21 points and 10 rebounds in the second half alone on her way to her ninth double-double this season.

The Red Wolves completed the game with 12 three pointers and 22 free throws, both season highs, and their second highest totals this year for points scored and assists (20). Flanery alone tied her career high for three-point field goals with six, which also tied the fourth most in school history.

The Red Wolves hit the road to compete against Louisiana-Lafayette on Thursday looking the capture their 14 consecutive win, tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m.