BOONE, N.C. (Interstat) — The Appalachian State Mountaineers, fresh off a narrow home victory, will look to move above .500 when they host the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in a Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball matchup Friday at the Holmes Center. Appalachian State (10-10 overall) edged South Alabama 60-57 on Thursday, powered by 17 points from Daisia Mitchell and 15 from guard Emma Smith. The Mountaineers have shown inconsistency in league play but have won two of their last three. Louisiana-Monroe (8-12) arrives seeking to end a three-game skid, including an 85-62 loss at Old Dominion on Wednesday. The Warhawks have struggled defensively during the stretch, allowing an average of 82.7 points in those losses. The game features two of the conference’s top guards. The Warhawks are led by Nakiyah Mays-Prince, who scored 19 points against Old Dominion and is averaging 16.1 points and 5.1 assists over her last eight games. She recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 assists in a win over Louisiana-Lafayette on Jan. 17. Smith is the engine for Appalachian State, averaging 12.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. She posted a triple-double earlier this month with 17 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in a win over Southern Mississippi. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Appalachian State is projected with a 69.2% probability to win. The Mountaineers won the season’s first meeting 78-65 in Monroe on Dec. 13. Following this contest, Appalachian State travels to face Troy on Feb. 4, while Louisiana-Monroe hosts Georgia State on the same date.