NEW ORLEANS - App State senior
Elena Pericic earned Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference Third Team honors, the league announced on Monday. Pericic is the 11th Mountaineer to collect Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference honors since App State joined the league in 2014.
The Rijeka, Croatia native returns to the court this winter after appearing in 30 games and making 28 starts during the 2024-25 campaign. Last year, Pericic shot 42.3% from the arc, 42.1% from the field, and 75.0% from the charity stripe. Additionally, Pericic averaged 8.3 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per contest. On three occasions, Pericic was the Mountaineers' top scorer and was the Black and Gold's top rebounder on eight occasions. Pericic scored double-figures in 13 games, which included six consecutive games from Dec. 21, 2024 to Jan. 11, 2025.
In App State's 73-71 victory over ULM on Feb. 5, Pericic knocked down 9-of-10 from the field and 3-of-3 from the arc for a season high 22 points. In back-to-back games, she grabbed a season high nine rebounds for the Mountaineers (Dec. 21 and 29) and she dished out a season high four assists in the Mountaineers' victory over Coastal Carolina on Jan. 11. Entering the 2025-26 season, Pericic has 984 career points and 550 career rebounds.
The Mountaineers will open the 2025-26 campaign with four consecutive home games, starting with the first MAC-SBC Challenge game against Western Michigan on Nov. 3. App State will then host Bob Jones (Nov. 7), Davidson (Nov. 12), and Wofford (Nov. 16).
Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at
appstatesports.com/tickets. Single game tickets will go on sale soon.
Women's Basketball Season Ticket Information & Pricing
Courtside Season Ticket: $150 (must call the ticket office at 828-262-7733)
Reserved Seat Season Ticket: $99
Faculty/Staff Season Ticket: $75 (must call the ticket office at 828-262-7733)
For more information, visit appstatesports.com/tickets or call the ticket office at 828-262-7733.
2025 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year:
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
En'Dya Buford, Old Dominion
Zay Dyer, Troy
Jakayla Johnson, Southern Miss
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Ashanti Barnes, James Madison
Crystal Henderson, Georgia State
Rachel Leggett, Troy
Zyion Shannon, Arkansas State
Kristin Williams, Coastal Carolina
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Ashley Baez, Troy
Simone Cunningham, Old Dominion
Meredith Maier, Marshall
Elena Pericic, App State
Meloney Thames, Southern Miss
2025 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (9) – 189
2. Arkansas State (3) – 174
3. Troy (1) – 171
4. Old Dominion (1) – 151
5. Southern Miss – 125
6. Coastal Carolina – 104
7. Georgia State – 102
8. Marshall – 100
9. App State – 94
10. Georgia Southern – 73
11. Louisiana – 67
12. Texas State – 55
13. ULM – 36
14. South Alabama – 29
Previous App State SBC Preseason All-Conference Team Honorees
First Team
Maryah Sydnor (2014-15)
Madi Story (2017-18)
Emily Carver (2024-25)
Second Team
Madi Story (2016-17, 2018-19)
Bayley Plummer (2018-19, 2019-20)
Pre Stanley (2020-21)
Janay Sanders (2022-23)
Third Team
Joi Jones (2015-16)
Lapresha Stanley (2018-19)
Pre Stanley (2019-20)
Michaela Porter (2021-22)
Faith Alston (2022-23)
Emily Carver (2023-24)
