BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's basketball (15-12, 9-7 SBC) begins the final weekend of the regular season on Thursday at Troy (20-7, 11-5 SBC). Tip is slated for 7 p.m. ET at Trojan Arena.
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About the Mountaineers
Last Time Out
App State pushed past Louisiana, 83-69, in the home finale on Senior Day. Five players scored in double figures with
Ashley Polacek scoring a team-high 15 points and dished out a game-best eight assists.
Lainey Gosnell secured her first double-double in Sun Belt play with 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. App State never trailed in the victory, jumping out to a 15-5 lead in the first quarter thanks to a 6-of-7 start and never looked back. App finished its home slate with an 11-3 mark, which is the best home record since the 2011-12 campaign. The 15 wins with two games left are the most victories under head coach Angel Elderkin.
Sun Belt Tournament Update
With two conference games left in the season, the Mountaineers are fifth in the league. App would go straight to New Orleans if the tournament ended today and essentially earn a first-round bye. The Mountaineers are 0.5 game up on Texas State and one game ahead of South Alabama and Coastal Carolina.
Gosnell Named College Sports Madness Sun Belt Player of the Week
The Demorest, Ga. native averaged 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds through the Mountaineers two victories over the weekend against ULM and Louisiana. Gosnell shot 56 percent from the field, 46.2 percent from beyond the arc and 80 percent from the charity stripe. Over the past seven games, Gosnell is averaging 14.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and shooting 54.4 percent from the field, 40.5 percent from 3-point range and 81.3 percent from the line. She has scored in double figures in five straight games, which is a career long.
What to Watch for
- In the first matchup against Troy, the Trojans took advantage of 20 App State turnovers and scored 20 points off the miscues. Watch if App can limit the mistakes on Thursday.
- Over the past four games, Polacek
is averaging 15.8 points, 5.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range. In the last two road games in Georgia, she averaged 22 points. See if the Mountaineer point guard can continue her solid play.
- Opponents are shooting an average of 23 free throws per game against Troy this season. See if the Mountaineers can get to the line on Thursday.
- In the first matchup, App corralled 13 offensive boards for just eight points, while Troy brought down 16 offensive rebounds for 16 points. See if the Black and Gold can take advantage of second-chance opportunities.
Scouting Troy
- The Trojans are coming off an 88-65 setback at UTA on Saturday.
- Japonica James led the team with 11 points in the loss.
- Troy boasts a very deep team with 10 players averaging at least 14 minutes per game.
- Kayla Robinson (10.2 ppg) and Amber Rivers are (10.1 ppg) lead the team in scoring.
- Sky'Lynn Holmes' 9.4 rebounds per game is a team best, and K. Robinson is posting a team-high 3.3 apg.
- Troy is the top rebounding team in the nation. It ranks in the top three in the country in offensive rebounds per game (1st; 22.0), rebounds per game (1st; 50.7), rebounds (2nd;1,369).
- Troy is also sixth in the country in points per game at 81.7 per game.
- The Trojans are the fastest team in the country. Troy's 82.9 pace of play is first in the nation.
Series History
Troy is 7-1 in the all-time series and has won the last five meetings. The Mountaineers' lone win came on Troy's home floor in 2015-16. Earlier this season, the Trojans upended the Mountaineers in Boone.
What's Next
App State will end the regular season on Saturday at 5:05 p.m. (ET) against South Alabama in Mobile. Ala.
