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While Men’s Basketball Ineligible for Post-Season Play, Women’s Team on Cusp

Freshman Madi Story notched a career-high of 14 points, while shooting 6-8 from the floor in the win over UL Monroe on Saturday. Photo by Dave Mayo / AppStateSports.com
Freshman Madi Story notched a career-high of 14 points, while shooting 6-8 from the floor in the win over UL Monroe on Saturday. Photo by Dave Mayo / AppStateSports.com

By Jesse Wood

The arrival of March means one of the most excited sporting events is just around the corner: NCAA March Madness.

While the Appalachian State men’s basketball team isn’t eligible to participate in post-season play this year because of academic sanctions, the women’s team is on the cusp of making the playoffs.

The women’s team (13-14) is currently in seventh place, one game ahead of both Georgia State and University of Louisiana-Monroe, in conference standings. The top eight teams will compete in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, which takes place March 11 to 14, for a chance to earn a conference championship and a berth into the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.

The female Mountaineers have two remaining games, at home against Texas State on March 5 and at home against University of Texas-Arlington on March 7. Essentially, the Mountaineers control their own destiny.

As for the men’s team, they also have two games remaining, both home games against Texas State on March 5 and University of Texas-Arlington on March 7.

If it weren’t for the sanctions announced last May, the men’s team would have an opportunity this week to make the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The male Mountaineers have a 10-17 record and in a three-way tie with Texas State and South Alabama for the eighth and final spot.

In the previous games held over the weekend versus University of Louisiana-Monroe, the men’s team won 66-43 and the women’s team won 80-61.

For the male Mountaineer’s this was a quality win as Louisiana-Monroe is the conference leader. For the women’s team, this was essentially a must-win as it gave the Mountaineer’s a one-game edge on eighth place Louisiana-Monroe.

For more about the Mountaineers, click to www.appstatesports.com.