TROY, Ala. (Interstat) — A surging Troy women’s basketball team, among the nation’s elite at 18-3, will look to continue its dominant Sun Belt Conference run when it hosts a struggling Appalachian State squad on Wednesday night at Trojan Arena.

The Trojans, riding a seven-game winning streak, have established themselves as the class of the league. Their most recent victory was an 88-77 road win at Coastal Carolina last Friday, powered by a double-double from standout forward Zay Dyer. Dyer has been a force, averaging 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds over her last seven contests, including a 23-point, 14-rebound performance against Georgia State on Jan. 24.

They face a Mountaineers team (10-11) seeking consistency after losing four of its last six games. Appalachian State is coming off a 78-70 home loss to Louisiana-Monroe on Jan. 30. Guard Emma Smith, the team’s engine, scored 13 points with four assists in that defeat. Smith has been a bright spot, averaging 13.7 points per game over the last month and posting a 17-point, 11-rebound, five-assist stat line in a win over Southern Miss on Jan. 10.

The matchup pits Troy’s high-octane offense, which has scored 80 or more points in nine games this season, against an Appalachian State team that has struggled to find offensive rhythm in conference play. The Mountaineers have been held under 60 points in four of their last seven outings.

History heavily favors the home team. Troy has won 12 consecutive games at Trojan Arena this season and its last conference loss came on Jan. 3. Appalachian State, meanwhile, is just 3-7 in true road games.

A key battle will be in the paint, where Dyer’s versatility for Troy will test an Appalachian State frontcourt that has faced rebounding challenges. The Mountaineers will need Smith to control the tempo and generate offense against a Troy defense that forces over 18 turnovers per game.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST Wednesday in a conference clash that represents a major opportunity for Appalachian State to secure a season-defining upset, and for Troy to continue its march toward a Sun Belt regular-season title.