Special Report from App State Sports. NEW ORLEANS, La. – App State redshirt senior Janay Sanders and junior Faith Alston earned spots on the Sun Belt All-Conference Team, the league announced on Oct. 17. Sanders was named to the second team, while Alston earned a spot on the third team.
Last season, Sanders started all 26 games during the 2021-22 campaign, clocking 691 minutes on the court. Over the course of the season, Sanders scored 324 points, averaging 12.5 points per game, which landed her second on the team in the points category. The Charlotte, N.C. native posted a field goal percentage of .521, and a free throw percentage of .560, sinking 65 free throws. Sanders totaled 77 rebounds (57 defensive, 20 offensive), made 54 assists and posted 23 steals. At the end of season, Sanders ranked 11th in the conference in scoring, finished in the top-18 in free throw percentage and was ranked in the top-25 in assists. Sanders capped the 2021-22 season with a Third-Team All-Conference nod for her efforts on the court.
Last season, Alston started 18 of the 25 games she appeared in, was on the court 739 minutes and scored 246 points. Alston boasted a .729 free throw percentage, making 35 of 48 free throws, and posted a .385 field goal percentage, sinking 90 shots. The Centerville, N.C. native led the team in assists last year, notching 81 and averaging 3.2 per game. Over the course of the season, Alston totaled 70 rebounds (54 defensive, 16 offensive), and averaged 2.8 per game. At the end of the season, Alston ranked eighth in the SBC in assists and landed in the top 25 for minutes played as well as three-pointers made per game.
Alston and Sanders join seven Mountaineers who have earned spots on the Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams since App State joined the conference in 2014.
In the SBC Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll, the Mountaineers were picked eighth with 102 votes.
Last season, App State went 14-12 (8-4 SBC), achieving its best conference record and highest league finish since joining the Sun Belt. The Mountaineers went on a three-game win-streak in non-conference action from Nov. 28 to Dec. 5, defeating UNC Asheville, ETSU and Gardner-Webb. In Sun Belt play, App State went on a five-game win-streak from Jan. 15 to Jan. 29, and included wins over Little Rock, Louisiana, ULM, and a pair of back-to-back victories over Coastal Carolina. The Mountaineers capped the regular season with a home win against South Alabama on Feb. 26. In the SBC Tournament, the No. 4 seeded Mountaineers fell to Nov. 5 seeded Little Rock in the quarterfinals.
App State will open the 2022-23 season on Nov. 8 against Charlotte at Halton Arena in Charlotte, N.C. The Mountaineers’ home opener is slated for Nov. 14 against Lees-McRae at the Holmes Convocation Center.
2022-23 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Troy (12) – 194
2. Old Dominion (1) – 166
3. Louisiana – 161
4. Southern Miss – 137
5. Texas State – 135
6. James Madison – 130
7. Georgia Southern (1) – 108
8. App State – 102
9. Arkansas State – 96
10. Marshall – 91
11. Georgia State – 50
12. Coastal Carolina – 45
13. South Alabama – 38
14. ULM – 17
2022-23 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Felmas Koranga, Troy
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Felmas Koranga, Troy
Da’Nasia Hood, Texas State
Domonique Davis, Southern Miss
Terren Ward, Georgia Southern
Keya Patton, Arkansas State
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Kennedy Taylor, Texas State
Brandi Williams, Louisiana
Janay Sanders, App State
Kiki Jefferson, James Madison
Melyia Grayson, Southern Miss
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Lanay Wheaton, Louisiana
Amari Young, Old Dominion
Lauryn Pendleton, Arkansas State
Jashanti Simmons, Troy
Faith Alston, App State
Previous App State SBC Preseason All-Conference Team Honoree
First Team
Maryah Sydnor (2014-15)
Madi Story (2017-18)
Second Team
Madi Story (2016-17, 2018-19)
Bayley Plummer (2018-19, 2019-20)
Pre Stanley (2020-21)
Third Team
Joi Jones (2015-16)
Lapresha Stanley (2018-19)
Pre Stanley (2019-20)
Michaela Porter (2021-22)
