BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's basketball (5-3) will aim to knock off No. 22 South Carolina (4-4) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Colonial Life Arena.
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About the Mountaineers
Last Time Out
App State used a stellar fourth quarter that featured the Mountaineers shooting 71.4 percent from the floor en route to outscoring the Cougars, 27-16. Five players scored in double figures, while
Bayley Plummer posted her second double-double with 12 points and 20 rebounds. It was the second 20-rebound performance of the season for the junior.
Nicola Mathews played a pivotal role in an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter, scoring eight straight points that extended a three-point into 11 points.
Rising Up the Ranks
After her 20 rebounds against CofC, Plummer is now 15th all-time in rebounds with 617. With her current average of 11.3 rebounds per game, the Thomasville, N.C., native is on pace to have 877 rebounds for her career by the end of the year, which would put her at fourth all-time in career rebounds. Plummer has stepped up her play as of late, where she is averaging 11.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and shooting 57.1
percent from the floor. She also has a pair of double-doubles in the process. She is just one two players in the nation with Sydney Holloway (Bryant) to post multiple 20-rebounds performances. Plummer's 21 rebounds from earlier this season is tied for the second-highest outing in the country.
Bench Play
In five wins this season, App State's reserves are averaging 27.8 points per game and shooting 51 percent from the field. The bench for Appalachian's opponents are scoring just 10.8 points and shooting 35.9 percent. See if the Apps' bench unit can continue to play well after outscoring CofC's bench 27-8.
Facing the SEC
In the
Angel Elderkin era, Appalachian has played four SEC schools in Kentucky (2014-15), Alabama (2015-16) and Tennessee (2016-17). All nine SEC victories are against the Vols (5) and Gamecocks (4). The matchup on
Wednesday is the first of a three-year deal, where South Carolina will visit the High Country next season and then App will go back to Columbia in two years.
Scouting South Carolina
- One of the most consistently successful programs in the country over the past decade, South Carolina is led by 11th-year head coach, Dawn Staley.
- The Gamecocks went to the NCAA Elite Eight last season before falling to NCAA runner-up, UConn.
- South Carolina has captured the last four SEC championships and won the national title in 2017.
- Te'a Cooper leads the team in scoring at 14.6 ppg, while Tyasha Harris is averaging 11.3 ppg.
- Alexis Jennings is pulling down a team-high 6.1 rpg.
- Defensively, the Gamecocks are second in the nation with 56 blocked shots and fourth in blocked shots per game.
- South Carolina is 4-4, but has played three top 10 opponents in Maryland (9/10), Oregon State (9/8) and most recently Baylor (4/5). The Gamecocks fell to Drake, who is now ranked 24th in the AP Poll and first in the
CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll.
Series History
Appalachian and South Carolina face each other for the first time since the 2010-11 Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). South Carolina topped the Black and Gold in South Carolina, 67-54. App State is
4-11 against Wednesday's foe. The Mountaineers are looking for their first Power Five win since 2011-12 when they beat NC State on the road in the WNIT.
What's Next
The Mountaineers will have a long break before they host Wofford on Monday, Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m.
