Sun Belt Conference Weekly News and Notes (Jan. 12)
2016-17 Sun Belt Conference Composite Schedule
2016-17 Sun Belt Conference Standings
2016-17 Sun Belt Conference Statistics
2016-17 Sun Belt Conference Scoreboard
Elderkin Receives USBWA Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award
or her dedication, commitment and courageous spirit, Appalachian State University women’s basketball head coach Angel Elderkin is a recipient of the 2017 United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award, as announced by the USBWA. Elderkin was diagnosed with Stage III Endometrial Cancer during the summer, but continued to coach the Mountaineers. All of the visible cancer was removed through surgery, but Coach Elderkin still had to complete a rigorous treatment plan before the season started. Elderkin has yet to miss a game this season, including five-straight road games to start the season.
RPI STANDINGS
UTA, Little Rock and Troy are the three highest ranked teams in the NCAA WBB RPI as of January 10. UTA is at 47 with Little Rock sitting at 51. Troy checks in at 105. Combined the three teams are 10-0 in Sun Belt play.
MILESTONE WATCH
UTA’s Rebekah VanDijk scored 30 points in the win over Texas State on Saturday and is just 15 points shy of the 1,000-point club and would become the 18th student-athlete in UTA women’s basketball history to eclipes the 1,000-point mark in her career. The Lady Mavs head to Alabama this week with her first shot at the milestone taking place against South Alabama on Thursday. She follows it up with a high-anticipated matchup against Troy with both teams currently undefeated in league play.
Appalachian State’s Joi Jones needs just seven points to become the 24th member of App State’s illustrious 1,000-point club. She will have her chance to attain the mark against Coastal Carolina on Saturday.
FAST STARTS
The Troy Trojans are 10-4 for the first time since 1996-97 and 3-0 in conference play for the first time since 1998-99. UTA improved to 3-0 in conference play for the first time as a member of the Sun Belt and first time for the program since 2007-08 after the win over Texas State in San Marcos on Saturday.
TURNOVER STREAK
Troy forced 21 turnovers against Georgia Southern, the sixth straight game the team has forced its opponent into 20-plus turnovers. Troy is 4-2 during that stretch.
BENCH PLAY
Troy’s bench has outscored it opponents’ bench 43.6-18.2 on average this season.
MID-MAJOR RANKINGS
The Sun Belt featured two teams in the latest CollegeInisider.com Women’s Mid-Major Top 25 (#13 Troy, #18 UTA). Little Rock was receiving votes.