BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University women's basketball will take on Virginia in the Sweet 16 of the WNIT on Thursday at 7 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.
The Mountaineers (27-6) are coming off an upset of NC State on Saturday while the Cavaliers (24-10) downed Richmond on Monday night.
Appalachian will look to avenge its season-opening loss to the Cavaliers and advance to the WNIT Elite Eight, where it would face either James Madison or South Florida.
WNIT History
• Appalachian State improved to 2-4 all-time in the WNIT with Saturday's win at NC State.
• Appalachian State picked up its first-ever victory over NC State on Saturday.
• The Mountaineers snapped a 24-game losing streak to the Wolfpack and picked up their second win over an ACC opponent in as many years.
• Anna Freeman scored 26 points in the contest, 22 of which came in the second half.
• The Apps trailed by six points (31-25) at halftime before outscoring the Wolpfack (41-31) in the second half.
• Appalachian State shot a blistering 57.7 percent (15-for-26) in the second half including 4-of-8 from long range.
• After scoring 17 points in the first half, Wolfpack forward Kody Burke was held to just four points in the second half.
• The Apps have appeared in a total of six WNIT games, two this season, one last year and three in 1987 (one first round loss, two consolation round losses).
All About the Apps
Appalachian State • 27-6
• Appalachian State finished the regular season with 17 SoCon victories, tying a school record set last year.
• The Mountaineers secured a share of the Southern Conference title, their second title in two years, to earn back-to-back championships for the first time since 1988-89.
• The Apps finished with the same record as Davidson but finished with the No. 2 seed as the Wildcats swept the season-series to earn the tiebreaker.
• The Mountaineers broke the single-season school record for wins with Thursday's victory over UNCW after tying the record last year and added to it with the win over NC State on Saturday.
• The Apps have recorded three-straight 20-win seasons for the first time in school history.
• ASU has forced 10 or more turnovers for 100-straight games.
• The Apps have outscored opponents 1,074-759 in the paint this season.
• Against teams outside the power conferences, the Apps have a 1,028-647 edge in points in the paint.
• The Mountaineers have also used turnovers to their advantage this season. In 33 games, ASU has outscored opponents 712-521 off turnovers.
• The Mountaineers are 22-1 this season when they score 20 or more points off
turnovers.
• ASU ranks second in the nation in steals per game (13.2) and 20th in rebound margin (+6.5).
Scouting the Cavaliers
Virginia • 24-10
• The Cavaliers enter Thursday's contest after a 68-55 win over Richmond on Monday evening.
• Virginia is 15-3 against non-conference foes this season after posting a 9-7 record in the ACC.
• The Cavaliers' signature win came in a 69-64 overtime win over perennial national-power Tennessee on Nov. 20.
• Virginia finished the year ranked 50th in the RPI, the fifth-highest rank of any ACC team.
• The Cavaliers ended the season with the 61st toughest schedule in the nation after finishing the season tied for fifth in the ACC with North Carolina.
• Arianna Moorer and Ataira Franklin lead the Cavaliers in scoring at 14.2 and 12.3 points per game, respectively.
• Moorer earned second team all-ACC honors while Franklin was an all-ACC honorable mention.
• As a team, Virginia ranks in the top-100 nationally in eight categories including steals (3rd - 13.1 s/g) and turnover margin (3rd - +8.53).
• Two Cavaliers, Lexie Gerson and Arianna Moorer, rank in the top 30 in steals per game.
• Gerson, an all-ACC Defensive selection, is ranked 19th with 3.06 steals per game while Moorer is 28th at 2.82 steals.
• Virginia leads the ACC and ranks 23rd nationally in scoring defense (53.6 ppg) while leading the league and ranking 24th nationally in turnovers (14.2).
Series History
• The Mountaineers are 0-1 all-time against the Cavaliers.
• ASU dropped an 80-48 decision to Virginia to open the season on Nov. 11.
• The Apps are a combined 2-3 against ACC opponents under head coach Darcie Vincent.
• The Cavaliers shot 47.1 percent (16-for-34) including 4-of-9 from behind the arc in the first half to build a 41-29 halftime lead.
• Virginia raced out to a quick 12-2 lead within the first seven minutes and never by less than 10 points after the 2:31 mark of the first half.
• Anna Freeman, limited by foul trouble, scored just four points in 19 minutes for the Apps.
• Chelsea Shine led the way for the Cavaliers with 15 points while Jazmin Pitts scored13 off the bench.
• One bright spot for the Mountaineers was Courtney Freeman, who scored 15 points and grabbed 13 boards.
