BOONE, N.C. - The App State women's basketball team is set to open Sun Belt action on Sunday with a 2 p.m. clash with Arkansas State at the Holmes Convocation Center.
For Sunday's game only, fans can
purchase $2.25 tickets to the game using promo code
NEWYEAR! Fans must purchase their tickets in advance of the game for the offer. The game will also feature a Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are encouraged to bring teddy bears or other plush animals to the game to support children in need in the greater Boone & App State communities. During halftime, fans will have the opportunity to throw their teddy bears on the court and whichever fans' hit the target on the court will receive an App State prize.
Last Time Out
The Black and Gold capped its December road stretch with a 74-61 victory over Mercer in Macon, Ga. on Dec. 21. Senior
Mara Neira led the charge for the Mountaineers, netting 17 points and draining 5-of-6 from the arc. She was two treys shy of the program's record of seven 3-pointers in a game, which is held by five Mountaineers, including fellow senior
Emily Carver. Carver netted 14 points, while junior
Elena Pericic scored 11 points, both contributing a pair of treys to App State's 10 3-pointers on the day. For a second game this season, Pericic led the Mountaineers in the rebounds category, grabbing six. In the assists category, seniors
Eleyana Tafisi and
Asjah Inniss combined for nine of the Mountaineers' 18 assists. Tafisi dished out five and Inniss contributed four. App State netted 40 points off the bench and shot 87.5% from the line as well as 45.5% from the arc and field.
Around the Mountain
App State's top scorer is Carver, who averages 11.0 points per game, followed by Neira, who averages 9.0 points per contest. Carver has shot 46.5% from the field this season and has been the Mountaineers' top scorer in four games so far this season. In the SBC standings, Neira ranks third in 3-point percentage (39.7%) and fourth in 3-pointers per game (2.30). Neira also leads the team in steals (1.6 per game). Junior
Rylan Moffitt leads the team in the rebounds category, averaging 4.8 per contest. She has been the Mountaineers' top rebounder in four consecutive games this season. Additionally, Moffitt leads the team in blocks with five on the year. Senior
Zada Porter ranks eighth in the Sun Belt in assists per game, averaging 3.4 per contest.
App State ranks third in the Sun Belt in assists per game (15.3), bench points per game (29.5), and field goal percentage (42.9%). The Mountaineers also stand fourth in 3-point percentage (33.5%) and defensive rebounds per game (26.6), as well as fifth in 3-pointers per game (7.0). App State stands 25th in the NCAA in bench points per game.
Series History vs. Arkansas State
App State has a 9-8 edge in its series against Arkansas State and have won the last two games against the Red Wolves. The Mountaineers capped the 2023-24 regular season with a 64-57 road victory over the Red Wolves on Mar. 1. Three Mountaineers netted double figures against the Red Wolves, led by
Faith Alston, who netted 21 points and dished out a team high four assists. Carver netted 13 points and combined with
Alexis Black for four of the Mountaineers' six treys. Moffitt grabbed a team high 10 rebounds. The Black and Gold shot 83.8% from the line. The Mountaineers held the Red Wolves to two treys and caused 23 Arkansas State turnovers.
Scouting Arkansas State
Kyanna Morgan averages 9.5 points per game, followed by Anna Griffin and Kennedie Montue, who both average 8.9 points per contest. Mountue ranks second in the league in 3-point percentage (41.1%) and fourth in 3-pointers per game (2.3). Shaunae Brown joins Mountue in both categories, rounding out the SBC's top-five in 3-point percentage (36.1%) and ranking sixth in 3-pointers per game (2.2). Griffin is Arkansas State's top rebounder, averaging 5.3 rebounds per contest. She also leads the team in blocks, with nine on the year. Crislyn Rose leads the team and stands sixth in the league in assists per game, averaging 3.5 per contest. In the steals category, Bella Weary leads the team with 1.9 steals per game.
Arkansas State is 4-6 (0-0 SBC) this season and enters Sunday's contest fresh off a 68-45 home win over Delta State (Dec. 22). After opening the 2024-25 campaign with a 61-52 loss against Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, Mich., the Red Wolves posted a 100-96 victory over Arizona State in Tempe, AZ on Nov. 8. The Red Wolves returned to Jonesboro, Ark. to host Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 13, recording a 114-54 victory. Arkansas State dropped a trio of games to Xavier, Arkansas and Little Rock from Nov. 19 to Dec. 3. Arkansas State posted a win over Jackson State on Dec. 7 before dropping contests to UT Martin (Dec. 15) and Tarleton State (Dec. 19).
Arkansas State ranks second in the Sun Belt and 11th in the NCAA in 3-pointers per game (10.1). Additionally, the Red Wolves rank second in the league and round out the NCAA's top-40 in steals per game (11.3). The Red Wolves stand third in the league in turnovers forced per game (21.2) and 3-point percentage (32.7), as well as fourth in bench points per game (29.4).
On the Horizon
The Mountaineers will hit the road to take on South Alabama in Mobile, Ala. on Jan. 2 and Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss. on Jan. 4. Both games are set for 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT) tipoffs and will be available to stream on ESPN+.
