BOONE, N.C. – App State used a feisty defense to earn a 55-46 win over last year's regular-season Sun Belt champion Louisiana and hand head coach
Angel Elderkin her 100th career victory.
Playing without three key Mountaineers, App State (8-8, 2-1 SBC) stepped up its defense, forcing 25 turnovers and holding the Ragin' Cajuns (11-4, 3-2 SBC) to no 3-pointers on 10 attempts. The Mountaineers made seven triples on 23 attempts.
"I'm really proud of our team coming into the game and not having two starters able to play. I thought we got some tremendous contributions, especially from freshman
Mariah Frazier," Elderkin said. "I thought our zone defense was tremendous. It was really a team win, and one that obviously I won't forget."
Alexia Allesch led the App State offense with a team-high 14 points and 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season.
Emily Carver scored 11, and
Michaela Porter and
Janay Sanders added 10 apiece.
It was an especially low-scoring first half, with App State ahead 19-14 at the break. Both teams scored at a higher clip in the second half, but a strong third quarter for App State stretched its lead from five to 12 (40-28) going into the final frame. Four of the Mountaineers' seven 3-pointers came in the third quarter.
The end of the game showcased App State's proficiency at the free-throw line. The Mountaineers drained 7-of-9 attempts from the charity stripe down the stretch, including 4-of-4 from Carver and 3-of-4 from Sanders. The Black and Gold made 12-of-16 free throws in the game, while Louisiana made 2-of-6.
App State snapped Louisiana's three-game win streak. The Cajuns came into the contest with the best overall record of all Sun Belt teams.
Elderkin earned her 100th win in her ninth season at the helm in Boone. The Mountaineers have a 56-53 record over the last four seasons, including a WBI championship in 2019 and a program-best fourth-place Sun Belt finish last year.
App State hosts ULM Saturday at 2 p.m., televised on ESPN+.
