BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University women's basketball steps out of conference play to take on Big South competitor Gardner-Webb, Wednesday January 28. The contest is slated to begin at 7 p.m. in the Holmes Center.
THE MOUNTAINEERS: ASU is coming off its strongest win of the year, as the Apps downed SoCon rival Davidson 77-57 in Belk Arena. Appalachiain took a 42-24 advantage into halftime, in part due to Frances Hernandez's 21 first-half points and rolled to a 20 point victory.The Mountaineers shot a stout 54.7% in the contest their best mark of the season. Three Mountaineers finished the contest in double-figures, with Hernandez recording a career-high 27 points, Brittney Spencer having 13 and Brittany Mixon scoring ten. It was the 12th time this season that Mixon has scored in double-figures for the Black and Gold.
THE RUNNIN' BULLDOGS: Gardner-Webb is on a three-game winning streak, having defeated Presbyterian, Winthrop and Charleston Southern. Margaret Roundtree paces GWU offensively, averaging 12.0 points per game, while Laura Povilonyte leads the Runnin' Bulldogs on the glass, hauling in an average of 6.1 per game.
THE SERIES: Gardner-Webb holds the series advantage, as the two squads have met just one time before in 2007-08, when the Runnin' Bulldogs eeked out a 69-67 win. In the game, Gigi Thomas and Frances Hernandez carried ASU offensively, notching 19 and 18 points apiece.
ASU VS. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS: The Apps are 1-7 on the season against out -of- league opponents. Appalachian's lone win in non-conference play came in the Holmes Center against Alabama A&M on November 24, 2008. Five of the Black and Gold's non-conference losses have been decided by eight points or less. Brittany Mixon and Frances Hernandez have paced ASU offensively in the eight contests, both averaging 9.3 points per game, while Canesha Edwards has hauled in an average of 8.3 boards. Appalachian's rebounding against non-conference foes has been impressive, with a 3.8 rebounding margin, to go along with a .378 field goal and .337 three point percentage.
UP NEXT: ASU continues with its homestand, as they return to SoCon play, taking on Furman Saturday January 31 at 1 p.m., in game one of a double-header with the men's team.
