Georgia Southern Opens Conference Play Against Appalachian State Monday

STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern opens Southern Conference play at home against Appalachian State Monday at 7 p.m. in Hanner Fieldhouse.

The Lady Eagles (3-2) have faced two top 25 opponents in their last three games and are coming off of a loss to #10 Notre Dame, but Georgia Southern is 3-0 against non-ranked opponents this season.

The Georgia Southern offense is averaging 61.8 points per contest, and senior guard Ashley Melson (Newnan, Ga.) leads the team in scoring with 13.4 a game.

The Lady Eagles are shooting 34% from behind the 3-point line this season. Freshman Samantha Williams (Kingsport, Tenn.) is the most proficient from behind the arc making 50 percent of her shots from deep.

Jessica Geiger (Stone Mountain, Ga.) leads Georgia Southern in rebounding with 6.2 a game and has already set a new career high (10) this season. Jamie Navarro (Naples, Fla.) has pulled a team high 12 offensive rebounds and averages 5.2 a contest.

Georgia Southern holds a 28-12 advantage over Appalachian State in the all-time series; however, the record is a close 10-7 in Hanner Fieldhouse. Head coach Rusty Cram is an impressive 22-6 against the Mountaineers in his career.

Appalachian State is 1-4 in head coach Darcie Vincent’s first season at the helm and are coming off of a 72-68 loss to East Tennessee State (11/26). The Mountaineers are 0-3 on the road this season. Their lone victory came against Alabama A&M (11/24).

Appalachian State has had some quality individual performances this season. Canesha Edwards recorded double-doubles in the first two games of the season, and Frances Hernandez scored 26 in the 65-52 win over Alabama A&M.

The Mountaineers average 61.6 points and pull down 41.4 boards per game. Hernandez leads the team with 13 points a contest. The sophomore guard prefers the 3-pointer, and 14 of her 21 made field goals have come from behind the arc. Edwards averages a team high 7.8 rebounds a game.

The Lady Eagles will travel to the state of North Carolina for the next two games and will face High Point on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Elon on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Category: Women's Basketball

Published on Sunday, 30 November 2008 00:05