Monday, February, 12th
February 9, 2024FB: Mark Speir Returns to App State
February 9, 2024WBB: Mountaineers Clash with Western Michigan for Second Installment of MAC-SBC Challenge
February 9, 2024
Media contact: Katherine Jamtgaard – ja*********@ap******.edu
BOONE, N.C. – The App State women’s basketball team is headed to Kalamazoo, Mich. to take on Western Michigan for the second MAC-SBC Challenge game of the 2023-24 campaign. Saturday’s game is set for a 2 p.m. tipoff and will be available to stream on ESPN+.
It will be the first time App State and Western Michigan have met in women’s hoops. The Mountaineers and Broncos have only clashed in four other sports: volleyball, men’s basketball, softball, and men’s tennis.
Last Time Out
In their first home game since Jan. 20, the Mountaineers (12-11 (6-6 SBC)) upset ULM, 78-71, on Feb. 7. Senior Faith Alston, who was honored in the pregame for reaching her 1,000th career point on Jan. 20, led the team with 24 points on the night. The Centerville, Va. native has scored double-figures in all but two games this season and has been the team’s top scorer for 16 games. Junior Emily Carver netted 15 points and combined with Alston for nine of the Mountaineers’ 15 assists. Fifth-year senior Taylor Lewis was one rebound away from recording a double-double as she pulled down nine rebounds and netted 14 points. App State held ULM to eight total offensive rebounds, second chance points, and fast break points. ULM only led for 30 seconds of play before App State tied things up and took control for the remainder of the game.
Ranked Mountaineers
In league-only play Alston checks in at fourth in the conference in scoring and assists. App State ranks third for made 3-pointers and rounds out the top-five for team 3-point percentage.
For the season thus far, sophomore Rylan Moffitt checks in at fourth in the Sun Belt for rebounds. Alston ranks fourth in the assists category and rounds out the top-five in the scoring category in the league. App State ranks fourth in the conference for made 3-pointers.
MAC-SBC Challenge Game 1 Rewind
App State hosted Ohio in its inaugural MAC-SBC Challenge game on Nov. 11. The Mountaineers came back from a 39-23 deficit at the half to clinch the win, 71-64. Carver and Alston led the team with 17 points and 15 points and dished out three assists respectively. Alston made six steals, while graduate student Mariah Frazier got away with five. Junior J’Mani Ingram and Moffitt combined for 21 of the Mountaineers’ rebounds. The Mountaineers held Ohio to five offensive rebounds and forced 33 Bobcat turnovers. The Black and Gold also held Ohio to a mere seven points in the fourth quarter while gaining momentum to score 31 points.
Western Michigan traveled to Atlanta, Ga. to take on Georgia State for its first MAC-SBC Challenge game on Nov. 10. The Broncos fell short to the Panthers, 71-58. Kaitlyn Zarycki netted a team-high 21 points, pulled down six rebounds, and dished out three assists.
Scouting Western Michigan
Western Michigan is 9-11 (4-6 MAC) on the season and enters Saturday’s contest after a 70-57 road loss to Kent State. The game will also mark the Broncos’ first home game in the month of February. WMU snapped a five-game losing streak on Jan. 17 with a victory over Ohio and collected two more wins, defeating Buffalo and Akron, before falling to Central Michigan. Western Michigan was also part of the tournament field at the 2023 Thanksgiving Basketball Clasico in Puerto Rico. The Broncos fell to Campbell on Nov. 24, but bounced back to notch a victory over UNC Asheville on Nov. 25. App State took part in the same tournament and went 2-0 on the Island of Enchantment, defeating Furman on Nov. 23 and Binghamton on Nov. 24.
Kaitlyn Zarycki is Western Michigan’s top scorer this year, averaging 18.5 points per game. Zarycki has shot 51.2% from the field and 90.5% from the line this season. She also leads the team in rebounds, assists, and steals.
On the Horizon
The Mountaineers will return to Boone for a four-game homestead. On Feb. 15, App State will host Marshall at 12 p.m. for Education Day. Admission will be free for fans.
The Black and Gold will then host Georgia State at 2 p.m. on Feb. 17 for its Play4Kay Pink Day game. App State women’s basketball alumni are encouraged to join the team for Alumni Day festivities that day. Saturday’s game is also part of a doubleheader with the men’s program, which will host Louisiana at 4:30 p.m.
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App State Athletics Strategic Communications
425 Jack Branch Drive
Boone, NC, 28608
www.appstatesports.com
