Women's Basketball | 2/8/2017 1:20:00 PM

2016-17 GS WBB Quick Facts (PDF)
2016-17 GS WBB Media Guide (PDF)
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STATESBORO, Ga. –  The Georgia Southern women's basketball team (10-12, 6-5 SBC) hits the road to face off against the Appalachian State Mountaineers (9-13, 4-7 SBC) for a Sun Belt rivalry matchup on Thursday evening, and will then travel to Conway to play the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (9-12, 4-7 SBC) on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles will tip off at 7 p.m. on Thursday and 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

THURSDAY'S GAME SNAPSHOT
Georgia Southern vs. Appalachian State
Thursday, Feb. 9   |  7:00 p.m. EST   |  George M. Holmes Convocation Center (Boone, NC)
Live Audio (GS Sports Network)   |   Live Video (ESPN3)  |  Live Stats   

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS (Twitter - @AppStateWBB)
Georgia Southern and Appalachian State's rivalry dates back to 1990. Since then, the two teams have met on the hardwood 57 total times, including once earlier this season. Georgia Southern owns a 37-20 winning record over the Mountaineers, and earlier this season defeated the Mountaineers at home, 53-50.

Angel Elderkin is in her third season at the helm of the Mountaineer's program after previously coaching at LSU. Elderkin led the Apps to a 14-16 record and a 9-11 mark in her inaugural season, and last year the team finished with a 10-20 record, 7-13 in conference play. Despite the record last season, the Mountaineers had wins against squads such as UL Lafayette, who was second in the conference at the moment, and eventual Sun Belt Tournament Champion Troy.

This year, Appalachian State has started the campaign 9-13 overall, 4-7 in the Sun Belt with their only conference wins being twice over Arkansas State,  and once over Georgia State and Texas State. The Mountaineers are averaging 62.7 points per game, but give up a total of 66.2 points on average. As a team, Appalachian State enters Saturday's game shooting 37.2% (502-1350) from the field and are averaging 3.3 three-pointers per contest. The Mountaineers have forced 17.5 turnovers per game, but have also turned the ball over 17.9 times per game themselves.

Appalachian State is led in scoring by Joi Jones, who averages 13.6 points per game, and Madi Story with 12.8. Jones, a senior guard from Duluth, Ga., has started every game for the Mountaineers and averages 4.9 rebounds per game. Bria Carter leads App from down low, with an average of six rebounds a game and a 59.3% (43-62) average from field goal range. 

2016-17 Appalachian State Roster
2016-17 Appalachian State Schedule
2016-17 Appalachian State Statistics


SATURDAY'S GAME SNAPSHOT
Georgia Southern vs. Coastal Carolina
Saturday, Feb. 11   |  1:00 p.m. EST   |  HTC Center (Conway, SC)
Live Stats   |   Live Audio (GS Sports Network)   |   Live Video (GS All-Access)

SCOUTING THE CHANTICLEERS (Twitter - @CoastalWBB)
GS and Coastal Carolina have only met on the hardwood in women's basketball five times in program history, with Georgia Southern owning a 4-1 record against the Chanticleers. The two teams met earlier this season in Hanner Fieldhouse, where the Eagles defeated the Chanticleers, 78-70.  Coastal Carolina's inaugural year in the Sun Belt this year will mark the first time the two teams have faced off in 18 years.  The last time the Eagles and Chanticleers faced off was in 1999.

Jaida Williams is in her fourth season at the helm of the Chanticleer's program after previously coaching at Wake Forest, Iowa, South Florida, and UC Santa Barbara. Williams' and the Chants made the transition to the Sun Belt this year after previously competing in the Big South. During the 2015-16 season the Chants finished with a 12-18 overall record and 7-13 mark in the Big South, leaving them in ninth place of the Big South at the conclusion of the season.

This year, Coastal Carolina has started the campaign 9-12 overall, 4-7 in the Sun Belt with conference wins over Texas State, Georgia State, Appalachian State and Arkansas State. The Chanticleers are averaging 63.0 points per game while giving up an average of 64.7 points to their opponents. As a team, Coastal Carolina enters their game against Georgia State on Thursday shooting 38.0% (481-1267) from the field and are averaging 4.0 three-pointers per contest. The Chants have forced 19.3 turnovers per game, but have also turned the ball over 17.8 times per game themselves.

Coastal Carolina is led in scoring by Ced Gibson's 13.5 points per game. Behind her, Rachael Gregory's 12.6 points per game and Kennedy Archer's 9.5 also lead the Chanticleers in offense. Gibson leads the team with 60 assists and 45 steals on the year. Senior forward Alexis Robinson leads Coastal Carolina from down low, averaging 9.5 rebounds per game with a total of 189 so far this season.

2016-17 Coastal Carolina Roster
2016-17 Coastal Carolina Schedule
2016-17 Coastal Carolina Statistics

LAST TIME OUT (W, 76-65 vs. UL Monroe)
Behind a career-high 22 points from freshman Alexis Brown, the Georgia Southern women's basketball team continued its recent hot streak, downing ULM 76-65 Saturday afternoon at Hanner Fieldhouse. With the win, the Eagles have now won five of their past six games and moved to over .500 in the Sun Belt Conference.

Brown, whose previous high for points was 17 earlier this season against Troy, led the way for the Eagles with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting with four 3-pointers. It was the fourth time this season she has recorded a double-digit output. Angel McGowan scored 17 points while Patrice Butler scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

ULM was led by Carissa Moody's 25 points while Alexis Collins contributed 16 points. The 25 points from Moody are tied for the most allowed by an Eagle opponent this season.

Georgia Southern struggled from the field, shooting just 38.6 percent for the game, but hit 10 3-pointers and shot 80 percent from the free throw line (12 for 15) and forced 17 Warhawk turnovers. 

With the win, GS moved to 10-12 overall, 6-5 in the Sun Belt Conference while ULM fell to 5-17, 2-9 in the SBC. GS improved to 2-0 against the Warhawks this season as the Eagles downed ULM 65-44 earlier this year in Monroe.

COACHES VS. CANCER 3-POINT CONTEST
The Georgia Southern basketball teams have teamed up with Coaches vs. Cancer and the Sun Belt Conference to compete in the Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge in February.

College basketball teams from across the country are squaring off from behind the arc to raise money in support of the fight against cancer. Each school will compete to raise the most funds by pledging donations for every 3-point shot their team makes in the month of February with all proceeds to benefit the American Cancer Society to fund innovative research and patient services. 

The winner of the Sun Belt Conference's challenge will be crowned the league's 3-Point Champion, and all participating schools are entered into the national contest for a chance to earn the national 3-Point College Champion honor.

Basketball fans from coast to coast are encouraged to join the competition. Eagle Nation can support the Eagles' campaign by pledging a donation for every 3-pointer made in February. Pledge to the Eagles at GSEagles.com/3ptchallenge, compete against our rival schools and play a part in the fight against cancer.

NEXT UP
Georgia Southern will return home next weekend for their final two home games. The Eagles will play UT Arlington at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16., and then face off against Texas State at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18. GS will celebrate seniors Alexis Sams, Patrice Butler, Jessica Marcus, and Angel McGowan at their final home game on the 18^th.
 


The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are scheduled for a week of March Madness in the Big Easy.  New Orleans will once again be home to the two championships that will take place at Lakefront Arena from March 7-12 and ticket books can now be purchased from your our ticket office.  For more information, visit the Sun Belt Conference's championship central websites - Men's Championship – Women's Championship – and be sure to follow the @FunBelt on social media - @SunBelt.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by visiting GSEagles.com/Tickets.