App State Sets its Sights on First Round Clash Versus Arkansas State

BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's basketball seeks to continue its season on Tuesday against No. 8 seed Arkansas State at 12:30 p.m. (ET) in the first round of the 2018 Sun Belt Championship in New Orleans at Lakefront Arena.


About the Mountaineers

Season Recap
Appalachian finished 7-22 and 5-13 in Sun Belt play in the regular season that featured a team of seven newcomers including five freshmen and two sophomores. The Mountaineers were the youngest team in the Sun Belt in terms of experience and games played. LaPresha Stanley (10.9 ppg) and Tierra Wilson (10.6 ppg) are the first freshmen duo since 2009-10 (Ashlen Dewart - 14.8 ppg/Anna Freeman - 10.5 ppg) to lead the team in scoring. Bayley Plummer was named All-Sun Belt Third Team after leading the league in rebounding (11.4 rpg) and double-doubles with 12. Plummer more than doubled her production across the floor including 32.7 minutes per game. 

What to Watch For
• In the past three games, the Mountaineers have been in a slump hitting just six 3-pointers combined. Appalachian shot just 2-for-20 against Arkansas State. See if the Black and Gold can connect from deep. The Apps hit a season-high 61.1 percent from 3-point range in the first matchup against the Red Wolves.
• In the last six games, LaPresha Stanley is averaging 16.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Stanley has scored at least 20 points in three outings during the stretch. Expect Stanley to produce in the first round on Tuesday.
• App State committed 22 turnovers that turned into 21 points for the Red Wolves in the previous meeting. Watch if App can protect the ball on Tuesday.
• See if App State can start fast out of the gate against Arkansas State. The Red Wolves jumped on the Mountaineers in the previous meeting outscoring the Black and Gold, 20-9 in the opening frame.
• App State posted a season-high 23 rebounds on offense in the game against Coastal Carolina on Saturday. Watch if the Mountaineers can crash the glass against Arkansas State on Tuesday.

Tournament History
The Mountaineers are 31-28 all-time in conference tournaments and 1-3 in the Sun Belt Tournament with App's lone win coming in the first round last season against Coastal Carolin, 79-58. App State is 13-9 in the first round of conference tourneys. 

Scouting Arkansas State

• Arkansas State finished the regular season with a 15-14 record and 10-8 in the league.
• The Red Wolves won their game over ULM, 80-73, after falling to Coastal Carolina and Louisiana in back-to-back games, respectively.
• Akasha Westbrook leads the team averaging 13.8 points while Jada Ford is turning in 10.5 points per contest.
• Lauren Bradshaw leads the team in rebounding at 6.2rpg.
• Posing one of the top offenses in the league, the Red Wolves are third in league-only scoring 66.8 points per game and shooting 41.7 percent.
• The Red Wolves are also third in 3-point field goal percentage shooting 35.2 percent.
• ASU is second in the conference in pace at 74.4.
• The Red Wolves haven't been eliminated in the first round of the tournament since 2012 to South Alabama. 

What's Next

Appalachian will play No. 1 seed Little Rock on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. (ET) if it defeats Arkansas State.