BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's basketball (6-7, 1-1 SBC) hosts Arkansas State (3-11, 1-1 SBC) for the first game of 2017 and the Sun Belt home opener on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Holmes Center.
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@AppStateWBB vs. @AStateWBB | Jan. 5th | 7 p.m. | Boone, N.C. | Holmes Center
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About the Mountaineers
Last Time Out
Madi Story hit a layup through traffic with 3.9 seconds left in the game to help lead the Apps to a 66-64 win over Texas State on the road on Saturday. App State outscored TXST, 18-10, over the final 9:19 of the game. Appalachian scored 42 of its 66 points in the paint and 30 of its 39 second half points in the box. Story scored a game-high-tying 14 points and brought down five boards. Ashley Bassett-Smith scored 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting from the floor.
What to Watch For
• In the three games against Arkansas State last season, Joi Jones has averaged 19.7 points per game on 47.9 percent shooting from the field. The senior guard averaged just 4.3 in the three games against A-State in her sophomore season. See if Jones can mirror the success from last season against the Red Wolves.
• A-State is last in the Sun Belt in scoring defense allowing opponents to score 75.1 points per game and is 1-7 this season when foes score at least 75 points. See if the App State offense who is 4-0 when scoring at least 70 points this season can get the offense going.
• App State has allowed its past three opponents to shoot 32.7 percent from beyond the arc after allowing opponents to shoot 44 percent over the three-game slide. Arkansas State boasts the top 3-point shooting team in the conference. See if the Apps can slow down the attack from 3-point land.
• Bassett-Smith is shooting 62.5 percent (10-16) from the field over the past two games after hitting just six shots in the previous four games. See if Bassett-Smith can keep up the solid play.
• App State is 6-0 when scoring 30 or more points in the paint and averaging 36 points in the box over the last three games. See if the Mountaineers can get into the lane for easy buckets against Arkansas State.
Scouting the Red Wolves (3-11, 1-1 SBC | Jonesboro, Ark. | Brian Boyer)
• Arkansas State is 3-11 this season and 1-1 in conference play after starting the league slate with a win at UL Monroe before falling to Louisiana on Saturday.
• A-State is led by 18-year head coach Brian Boyer, who has replaced all five starters from last season's regular season championship team.
• Jada Ford leads the team scoring 12.5 points per game while Dominique Oliver (10.6 ppg) and Akasha Westbrook (10.1 ppg) follow suit.
• Lauren Bradshaw leads the team in rebounding a 6.6 rpg, and Starr Taylor is dishing out a team-high 2.1 apg.
• The Red Wolves started the season 0-6 with losses to the likes of Oklahoma State, Florida and Iowa State.
• A-State is 1-7 when allowing at least 75 points this season.
• Arkansas State is third in the Sun Belt in 3-pointers made per game at 6.4 while ranking first in 3-point field goal percentage.
• Arkansas State returns six letterwinners and brings in eight newcomers while losing six players (five starters).
• The Red Wolves were picked to finish seventh in the Sun Belt this season.
• Arkansas State is 1-8 this season away from its home court.
Series History
• Arkansas State leads the series 5-2 all-time against the Mountaineers.
• The Red Wolves have won the last four matchups in the series.
• App State's last win came in 2014-15 at the Holmes Center in a thriller by one point, 70-69.
• Arkansas State has won the turnover battle in the four wins, while in the Apps' last win, both teams had the same amount of miscues.
• App State allowed the Red Wolves in all three games last season to go on a big run when having a lead.
What's Next
The Apps will conclude the weekend against Little Rock on Saturday at 1 p.m. before having six days off in between games.
