NEW ORLEANS - The eighth-seeded Appalachian State University women's basketball team will look to upset No. 1 seed Arkansas State in the first round of the 2016 Sun Belt Tournament on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. (ET) in New Orleans at Lakefrond Arena.
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@AppStateWBB at @ASTATEWB| March 9th | 12:30 p.m. | Lakefront Arena | New Orleans
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About the Mountaineers
Last Time Out
A 31-point outburst and a 17-2 run by A-State was too much for Appalachian on Saturday in an 83-74 decision to the Red Wolves. Madi Story led the team with 22 points while Joi Jones followed suit with 19 points and KeKe Cooper posted 11 boards for the hosts.
Regular Season Review
• Jones and Story are the first teammates to average at least 12 points per game since the 2012-13 campaign when Anna Freeman (16.5), Maryah Sydnor (14.8) and Courtney Freeman (12.0) .
• Cooper led the team with a career-high 59.3 field goal percentage, which topped the Sun Belt. Cooper is one of three App State student-athletes (Beth Laney, Ashlen Dewart) dating back to 1984-85 to lead their conference in shooting percentage. Cooper is the lone student-athlete in school history dating back to the '84-85 season to accomplish the feat twice.
• Jones led the team in points (12.5) and assists (3.1), as both are career highs. She's the first student-athlete since Anna Freeman in 2011-12 to achieve the feat.
• Kaila Craven made a splash in her freshman season for the Mountaineers, leading the team with 41 3-pointers and third in scoring at 9.3 ppg off the bench.
• Craven ranks first in scoring, free throw percentage (.784) and made 3-pointers amongst freshman in the Sun Belt. Her 9.3 ppg scoring clip is the highest for a freshman since Maryah Sydnor (10.1 ppg) in 2011-12.
Conference Tournament History
The Mountaineers are 30-26 all-time in conference tournament and are in search of their first SBC tourney victory. If Appalachian pulls off the win, it would be the first conference win since 2012-13 when it defeated College of Charleston in the SoCon Tournament. The Black and Gold could become the first eight seed since 2004 when Denver defeated South Alabama.
An App State Win Would
• Give the Mountaineers their first Sun Belt Tournament win.
• Snap a seven-game losing streak in neutral site games dating back to the 2012-13 season.
• Win its first conference tournament game since the 2012-13 season when Appalachian was in the SoCon .
• Improve Appalachian's record to 11-19 overall.
• Snap a three-game losing streak to Arkansas State.
• Become the first eight seed since 2004 to defeat a one seed when Denver defeated South Alabama, 67-65.
Five Things to Watch vs. Arkansas State
• In the two meetings against Arkansas State this season, the Apps allowed two big runs in each contest. A-State went on a 17-4 run while leading, 24-17, and a 17-2 run when Appalachian was up by four, 50-46. Watch if the Black and Gold can prevent a similar run on Wednesday.
• Arkansas State held a 16-7 advantage in offensive boards with a 12-4 output in second chance points. Anticipate on one of the top rebounding teams in Appalachian to shore up the glass.
• Bria Carter fouled out with just three boards in 16 minutes on Saturday. Expect Carter to bounce back on Wedneday as she was averaging just over eight points and six boards over the previous seven games before Saturday.
• In the previous meeting Khadija Brown-Haywood and Aundrea Gamble combined for 51 points and 21 boards. See if Appalachian can contain the dangerous duo on Wednesday.
• Appalachian is looking to become the first eight seed since Denver to upset a one seed in 2004 when South Alabama fell, 67-65. Watch if the Mountaineer can come out with the same focuse and energy they did on Saturday.
Scouting Arkansas State (25-4, 19-1 SBC)
• The Mountaineers and Red Wolved didn't have to wait long to match up with each other again.
• Appalachian and A-State are facing off for the second time in five days, with the Red Wolves defeating the Apps 83-74 on Saturday.
• Khadija Brown-Haywood and Aundrea Gamble combined for 51 points and 21 boards that propelled the Red Wolves to the win.
• A-State pieced together a 17-2 run in the third quarter that led to a 31-point outburst in the third quarter to take a commanding lead.
• Story led Appalachian with 22 points while Jones scored 19 points to follow suit. Craven added 14 and Farrahn Wood chipped in with 11 to round out the leading scorers.
• Cooper paced the team with 11 rebounds.
• A-State is now 4-2 in the all-time series and on a three-game win streak.
