BOONE, N.C. (Interstat) — Two Sun Belt women’s basketball teams with identical records and recent struggles will meet Thursday night when Appalachian State hosts South Alabama at the Holmes Center.

Both the Mountaineers and Jaguars sit at 9-10 overall this season. The matchup represents a critical opportunity for either squad to climb back to .500 and gain momentum in conference play.

South Alabama (9-10) enters on a three-game losing skid, most recently falling 69-46 to Georgia Southern on Saturday. The Jaguars have leaned heavily on guard Tamara Ortiz, who is coming off a 19-point, five-rebound, five-assist performance in that loss. Over her last seven games, Ortiz has averaged 12.4 points and 3.4 assists.

Appalachian State (9-10) snapped a four-game losing streak with a 68-48 road win at Louisiana-Lafayette last Friday. Guard Daisia Mitchell led the way with 17 points and three assists, showcasing the scoring punch she has provided intermittently this season. Mitchell averages 9.2 points per game but has scored in double figures in three of her last six contests.

The teams’ parallel records extend to their conference performance, with both seeking consistency in Sun Belt play. The Jaguars’ offense has faltered during their streak, failing to reach 60 points in two of the three losses. The Mountaineers will look to build on their defensive effort from the Louisiana-Lafayette win, where they held their opponent to 48 points.

Thursday’s game tips off at 6:30 p.m. EST. South Alabama visits James Madison on Saturday, while Appalachian State remains at home to face Louisiana-Monroe.