BOONE, N.C. - The App State women's basketball team (3-2) remains on the road for a 3:30 p.m. clash with UNC Asheville in Asheville on Saturday. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
Last Time Out
In their first road game of the season, the Mountaineers fell short to No. 22/23 West Virginia in Morgantown, W. Va., on Thursday. Senior
Emma Smith led the Black and Gold with a season-high 17 points. She drained three of App State's five 3-point buckets and combined with freshman
Riley Stoker for four of App State's six steals. With five rebounds apiece, junior
Daisia Mitchell and senior
Elena Pericic were the Black and Gold's top rebounders. Pericic also dished out a team- and season-high five assists.
Rankings Report
Smith is the Mountaineers' top scorer, averaging 12.2 points per game, and is followed closely by Mitchell, who averages 10.2 points per game. Smith has scored in double figures in the Black and Gold's last three contests (Nov. 12-20), while Mitchell netted double figures in App State's first three contests (Nov. 3-12). Additionally, Smith leads App State in rebounds (5.8 rpg), assists (3.4 apg) and steals (10). She ranks sixth in the league in assists per game. With a mark of 33.3%, sophomore
Jayden McBride rounds out the conference's top 10 in 3-point percentage. McBride also ranks 11th in the SBC in treys per game (2.0).
App State leads the Sun Belt and stands 35th nationally in rebound margin (12.2). The Mountaineers also stand second in the league and 40th in the NCAA in field-goal percentage (47.5%). Additionally, App State ranks second in the SBC and among the NCAA's top 65 in bench points per game (28.6).
Series History vs. UNC Asheville
App State leads its series with UNC Asheville, 17-4, and have won the last three contests against the Bulldogs. The Mountaineers defeated the Bulldogs, 71-56, in their last meeting on Nov. 28, 2021, in Asheville. Four Mountaineers netted double figures, led by Alexia Allesch, who scored 18. She drained 7-of-8 from the field and shot a perfect 2-of-2 from both the arc and the line. Brooke Bigott grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, while Faith Alston dished out a team-best five assists. The Mountaineers commanded the lead for the duration of play and held UNCA to a trio of treys. App State also caused 21 Bulldog turnovers.
Scouting UNC Asheville
UNC Asheville is 2-2 on the season and enters Saturday's contest fresh off a tight 67-50 road victory over Western Carolina (Nov. 19). The Bulldogs opened the season with a nine-point loss to Mercer on Nov. 3 before downing Warren Wilson, 108-44, on Nov. 6. The Bulldogs also dropped a road contest to N.C. Central.
Sophomore guard Nia Green and senior guard Aileen Marquez, who have started all four of UNC Asheville's games this season, lead the Bulldogs in scoring, averaging 9.8 and 9.5 points per contest, respectively. Additionally, Green is UNC Asheville's top rebounder, averaging 6.5 boards per game. She has also made a team-high 10 steals and matches Trinity Fields with 11 assists on the young season. Journee McDaniel leads the Big South in blocks per game (1.25) and is followed by senior center Kamaria Gipson and Green, who are tied for second in the league (1.00).
UNC Asheville leads the Big South and ranks third nationally in free throws made per game (21.00). The Bulldogs also lead the league and rank among the NCAA's top 75 in blocks per game (5.0), scoring defense (52.0) and rebounds per game (42.25). Additionally, UNC Asheville ranks third in the league and 26th nationally in turnovers forced per contest (24.5).
On the Horizon
Prior to Thanksgiving break, the Mountaineers will return to Boone to host Norfolk State for Education Day on Nov. 25. Tipoff is set for noon and admission will be free. Fans are encouraged to bring new or lightly used coats, which will be donated to local kids and families in need, to Tuesday's game.
