BOONE, N.C.  -  Appalachian State University women's basketball (6-13, 3-7 SBC) begins the second half of the Sun Belt schedule Thursday evening against UL Lafayette (16-4, 9-2 SBC) at 5 p.m. in the Holmes Center

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@AppStateWBB vs. @RaginCajunsWBB | February 4th | 5 p.m.  | Boone, N.C. | Holmes Center  
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About the Mountaineers

Last Time Out
The Apps couldn't repeat the same performance from last Thursday's victory in a 71-55 setback to South Alabama on Saturday. Joi Jones and Madi Story both notched 12 points apiece. Jones brought down a team-high eight rebounds. South Alabama held App State to 34.3 percent shooting while Marquita Daniels (22) and Colby Davis (21) combined for 43 of the team's points.

Joi Coming on Strong
• Jones has also played well as of late. Jones is averaging 10.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg and dishing out 3.1 apg while turning the ball over just 1.5 times per game.

• Also, the Duluth, Ga. native has stepped it up in the fourth quarter, scoring 26 of her 41 points over the previous three games while shooting 10-for-14  (71.4) percent from the floor.

• Jones had perhaps her best performance this season last Thursday at Troy with a game-high 18 points, career-best eight assists, five boards and just one turnover in 34 minutes of action.

A Win for App State Would
• Push the Mountaineers to a 7-13 mark and 4-7 record in Sun Belt play.

• Drop a two-game slide in the Holmes Center in conference action.

• Break a three-way tie with three other teams in  the Sun Belt for eighth place.

• Hand the Ragjin' Cajuns their fourth defeat on the road.

• Drop ULL to 16-5 and 9-3 on the season.

• Tie the all-time series against the Ragin' Cajuns.

Five Things to Watch for vs. UL Lafayette
• The starters are averaging 47.9 points in home games with four student-athletes averaging at least eight points, equaling 68 percent of the team's scoring output at home. They're also shooting 46.8 percent from the floor. See if the starters can bounce back after 38 points on 38 percent shooting at South Alabama.

•  Lafayette's KeKe Veal (14.9) is leading the charge in scoring for the Ragin' Cajuns. With Jaylyn Gordon missing the last three games, other student-athletes have stepped up. Simone Fields, Taylor Washington and Kia Wildridge all scored in double figures in her absence. See if App State can stop from the supporting cast from scoring.

•  Jones has played well as of late, averaging 10.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg and dishing out 3.1 apg while turning the ball over just 1.5 times per game. The junior guard has shot 10-for-14 (71.4 percent) in the fourth quarter over the last three games. Watch if she can keep up the same type of play tonight.

•  App State hasn't lost three straight since the end of the 2012-13 season into the beginning of the 2013-14 campaign. Anticipate on Appalachian coming out with the same fire as the Troy contest.

•  In the Mountaineers' six wins, they have outscored opponents by an average of 35.7-30.2 in the first half. In the losses, opponents have outcored App State, 35.2-25.2. Getting off to a fast start will be key for the Mountaineers.


Scouting UL Lafayette (16-4, 9-2 SBC)
• The Ragin' Cajuns arrive to the Holmes Center with a 16-4 record and 9-2 in the conference.

• ULL is 5-3 on the road while winning three of its last four away from home.

• The Ragin' Cajuns are 9-2 in conference play, the second-best record in the league.

• UL Lafayette ranks fourth in scoring in the Sun Belt averaging 65.1 ppg. Defensively, ULL is first in point allowed at 54.4 ppg.

• Lafayette is second in scoring margin at +10.6 points per game.

• KeKe Veal sports a team-high 14.9 ppg scoring clip.

• Kia Wildridge leads the team in rebounding pulling down 5.1 rpg and a team-high 47 percent field goal percentage with at least 100 attempts.

• The Ragin' Cajuns are coming off a 52-40 victory over UL Monroe on Tuesday. Simone Fields led the way with a double-double, turning in 19 points and grabbing 10 boards.

• ULL took the series lead earlier this season with a 60-51 defeat over Appalachian. Kaila Craven scored a career-high 17 points off the bench. The Ragin' Cajuns forced 24 turnovers while outscoring App State, 28-6, at the free throw line.