BOONE, N.C. -  A stern test awaits Appalachian State University women's basketball in Louisiana, kicking off Sun Belt action against ULM (6-4, 0-1 Sun Belt) on New Year's Eve and Louisiana Lafayette (8-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) on Saturday.

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GAMEDAY CENTRAL

Thursday, December 31 | Monroe, La. | Fant-Ewing Arena |  1 p.m.
@AppStatewbb (3-6, 0-0 Sun Belt) at @ULM_WBB (6-4, 0-1 Sun Belt)
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

Saturday, January 2 | Lafayette, La. | Cajundome | Cajundome | 6 p.m.
@Appstatewbb (3-6, 0-0 Sun Belt) at @RajinCujunsWBB (8-2, 1-0 Sun Belt
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio


About the Mountaineers

Last Time Out
The Apps topped their impressive win over Richmond on Dec. 17 with a season-high 92 points in a 14-point win over Furman on Dec. 20. Joi Jones (21 pts) and Madi Story (20 pts) both tallied career bests while three other players scored in double figures.

Starting Conference Play
App State is starting its second year in the Sun Belt. The Mountaineers finished 9-11 in their inaugural year in the SBC and was picked eighth in the preseason. A win on Thursday would give Appalachian its first opening conference win since a 79-47 over Georgia Southern in 2012-13 when the Apps were in the SoCon. A victory would also give The Black and Gold their first conference opening win on the road since the 1996-97 campaign.

Apps Hitting Their Stride
The have hit their stride at the right time just before Sun Belt play commences, winning their last two games by an average of 14 points.

APPALACHIAN STATE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
LAST TWO GAMES vs. FIRST SEVEN
                                                                                             12/17 vs. RU
Category                                          First Seven Games     12/20 vs. FUR
Points Per Game                                          62.1                      82.5
Field Goal Percentage                                  33.0                      50.4
Free Throw Percentage                                63.5                      74.1
Rebounds Per Game                                    46.1                      45.0
Assists Per Game                                           9.7                      14.0
Blocks Per Game                                            4.3                        6.5
Steals Per Game                                             8.1                        8.0
Average Margin                                            -10.8                    +14.0


Story Just Getting Good
•   Story's production has definitely increased over the last five games, averaging 12 points, 3.6 rebounds and three assists per game along with 1.4 steals per contest.

•  During the stretch, she is shooting 43.8 percent from the field while attempting 29 free throws.  

•  Highlighting her solid play was a career-high 20 points and five assists performance in the big win over Furman.

•  In the first four games of the season, she scored just 6.5 points per game on 24 percent shooting and zero assists to nine turnovers.


Scouting ULM (6-4, 0-1 Sun Belt)

•  The Apps and Warhawks meet for the third time in program history.

•  App State and UL Monroe met for the first time last season in the Mountaineers' inaugural season in the Sun Belt.

•  Appalachian narrowly escaped UL Monroe in the first meeting with a 55-54 win while dominating the second matchup, 80-61.

•  ULM is 6-4 this season after winning four of its first five matchups. The Warhawks are 0-1 in conference play following a 71-52 loss to rival, UL Lafayette

•  The Warhawks have done a good job protecting their home floor boasting a 5-1 mark this season.

•  UL Monroe ranks fourth in the Sun Belt in field goal percentage shooting a 41.3 clip from the field.

•  Alayshia Hunter, one of the top scorers in the Sun Belt, is averaging a team-high 18.7 points per game this season. Her scoring output is the second highest in the league.

•  The Warhawks also have one of the top rebounders in Daja Chase, who is pulling down a team-high 8.7 rbg. Chase is second in the league in rebounding.

Scouting ULL (8-2, 1-0 Sun Belt)

•  The Ragin' Cajuns and Apps meet for the third time in program history with the series tied 1-1.

•  UL Lafayette boasts the best record in the Sun Belt while the 8-2 mark is the best record an opponent has boasted this season against the Apps.

• The Cajuns have wins over SEC opponents such as Ole Miss and Arkansas.

•  ULL boasts two of the in KeKe Veal (5th - 15.1 ppg) and Jaylyn Gordon (6th - 14.6) while Gordon leads the Sun Belt in 3-pointers made per game with 2.6.

• UL Lafayette ranks first in point allowed per game (53.8 ppg), scoring margin (+15.0) and 3-point field goal defense (27.6 percent).