BOONE, N.C. - App State women's basketball opens Sun Belt play on Friday at 7 p.m. (ET) against Troy on ESPN+. The Mountaineers round out league action the following day at 5 p.m. (ET) against the Trojans in the newly-formatted Sun Belt schedule.
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About the Mountaineers
Last Time Out
App State fell to Georgia in the non-conference finale on Dec. 22.
Lainey Gosnell posted her third straight game in double figures with 12 points on top of a team-best five rebounds. The Mountaineers cut a 17-10 lead to three, 21-18, in the first quarter. However, the Bulldogs pulled away by shooting over 60 percent the rest of the contest.
A Win Would
- Improve the Apps' record to 4-3 overall and 1-0 in league action.
- Give the Mountaineers their first Sun Belt opening win since a 71-63 victory over South Alabama in 2018-19.
- Snap an eight-game skid in the series.
- Give Troy its first league-opening setback since 2015-16 to Arkansas State.
What to Watch for
- App State is averaging 27.5 turnovers over the last two contests (14 per game the first four games). Watch if the Mountaineers can protect the ball against a Troy team that is forcing 18.6 turnovers in its four wins. (11.3 in losses).
- In the last two games, the Trojans have allowed 35 3-pointers and 13 trifectas in their three losses. See if App can get it going from 3-point land.
- In the three road games against Troy,
Pre Stanley has scored at least 18 twice while averaging 16 points on the Trojans' home floor. Watch if the senior can be successful on Friday.
- Troy is fourth in the Sun Belt, averaging 16.4 offensive rebounds per game. See if the Mountaineers can keep the Trojans off the glass.
- Watch if App State can build off shooting a season-high 80 percent (12-15) from the line against Georgia. In Troy's four losses, opponents have attempted at least 19 free throws in three of the setbacks.
Scouting Troy
- Troy is 4-3 to the season following a 90-71 victory against Martin Methodist on Sunday, Dec. 20.
- Alexus Dye leads the charge averaging a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds per game.
- The senior is first in both categories in the Sun Belt.
- Troy ranks among the top in the league in scoring (1st-88.0 ppg), field goal percentage (2nd-44.1%),3-point field goal percentage (1st-36.4%), and rebounds per game (1st-51.3).
- In addition, the Trojans are third in the country in possessions per 40 minutes at 84 per contest.
- Troy was picked to finish first in the Sun Belt with 140 overall votes and nine first-place votes.
Series History
Troy is 10-1 in the all-time series with eight straight wins in the series. The Apps' lone win came in 2015-16 when they dealt Friday's visitor a 96-81 setback in Troy.
What's Next
Appalachian will end the weekend tomorrow against Troy at 6 p.m. (ET).
