Women's Basketball | 2/10/2016 5:12:00 PM

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State women's basketball team looks to regain its footing Thursday evening as it welcomes Appalachian State to Strahan Coliseum. The Bobcats defeated Appalachian State a year ago at home and seeks to even up the match-up this year in the series finale.
 
Last year at home against the Mountaineers, the Bobcats used a second half surge to come out with a nine-point, 67-58 victory. Taeler Deer put together an 8-for-12 effort from the floor including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc off the bench to lead Texas State offensively with 23 points. Kileah Mays and Ericka May each led the 'Cats with 10 rebounds apiece.
 
Against the Mountaineers, the Bobcats are 1-2 overall as they have fallen in both contests in Boone, N.C. since Appalachian State joined the league in 2014.
 
Texas State remains at the top of the Sun Belt Conference in 3-pointers made and 3-point percentage. The 'Cats have made 171 so far this season at a clip of 35.1 percent. The school-record for 3-pointers of 207 made in a season was set last year and at this pace, the Bobcats are set to break that record.
 
Toshua Leavitt and Kaitlin Walla remain in the top-five in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage with marks of 42.9 percent and 40.6 percent, respectively. Walla ranks third in the conference in 3's made this year with 2.1 per game.
 
The Bobcats enter into the Thursday contest with a 10-12 overall record and 5-7 mark in conference play. The 'Cats are currently in a tie for fifth place with Troy, South Alabama, and Appalachian State with eight games remaining in the regular season.
 
A Look At The Competition – Appalachian State
The Mountaineers of Appalachian State are entering Thursday's game with an 8-13 overall record and 5-7 mark in conference play. Currently, the Mountaineers are riding on a two-game winning streak after taking two at home against UL Lafayette and UL Monroe last weekend.
 
Other victories on the conference slate for Appalachian State include Troy, the first meeting with ULM, and against the Bobcats earlier this season.
 
After sweeping the Louisiana schools, App State's Madi Story was named the Sun Belt Conference Student-Athlete of the Week. Story garners the award after averaging 20.5 points, five rebounds and four assists while shooting 40 percent from the floor, 36.4 from beyond the arc and a 92.9 percent (13-for-14) effort from the free throw line. She is the first Mountaineer to earn the award this season.
 
Story leads the Mountaineers with 12.1 points per game while Joi Jones is contributing 10.5 points per contest. KeKe Cooper is a 58.5 percent shooter from the field for Appalachian State while averaging 7.9 points per game this year.
 
Cooper also leads the team with 7.3 rebounds per contest.
 
After defeating Texas State in the first match of the year, the Mountaineers went on a four-game losing streak. Momentum for Appalachian State has shifted, however, as the Mountaineers have won three out of the last four.
 
Angel Elderkin is the head coach of the Mountaineers and is currently in her second season at the helm of the Appalachian State squad. Her Mountaineers were picked to finish eighth in the Sun Belt Conference with Joi Jones earning Preseason Third-Team honors.
 
Final Details
Tip-off against the Mountaineers is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Strahan Coliseum. Live stats, live audio, and live video will be available at www.txstatebobcats.com. A live audio broadcast of the game will also be streamed at 89.9 FM KTSW with Brant Freeman on the call.