CHATTANOOGA, TENN- Despite a solid first half of play, overall shooting percentage at 29 percent and poor rebounding hurt Appalachian State University women's basketball (3-14, 2-7) Monday evening against Chattanooga (13-6, 9-1), as the Mocs were able to push past ASU, winning the contest 72-43.
The Apps got out to a strong start Monday evening in McKenzie arena, going on a 4-0 run to begin the game as Chattanooga native Catherine Williams scored the first points of night and Brittney Spencer hit a floater to give ASU the early 4-0 advantage. Williams finished the evening tying a career-high in points with seven and tying a career-high in steals with two. She also had two rebounds, two blocks and one assist.
The Lady Mocs responded to Appalachian's early offensive surge, going on a 6-0 run of their own to take the lead. Brittany Mixon would help cut UTC's lead to just one scoring two back to back layups, her first points of the contest to make the score 11-10. The senior finished the game with four points and one block.
Chattanooga would have its largest lead of the game up to that point with a little over 10 minutes to go in the half, taking a 28-14 advantage after going on a 8-2 five and half minute run, with Shanara Hollinquest scoring three points, and Megan Rollins chipping in five. Rollins had a career-high 13 points and a career-high eight rebounds. Four Lady Mocs finished the evening with double-figure scoring, with Erin Ogan scoring a game-high 15 points.
Frances Hernandez would end Chattanooga's run and ASU's three minute scoring drought, draining a three pointer and hitting two of three free throws to cut the lead to single digits at nine with 3:58 remaining in the half.
The Apps scored one point over the final three minutes of play in the first off a Spencer free throw, and Chattanooga took a 33-20 lead into the intermission. Spencer capped off the game tying a career-high six rebounds and six steals, to go along with eight points.
The Mocs 21-4 run in the opening minutes of second half play doomed ASU, as UTC was able to push the score to 54-22, their largest lead of the contest with a little over 12 minutes left in the game. The run coupled with ASU's scoring drought, scoring only four points in the opening eight minutes of the second half put the game out of reach for the Black and Gold.
An 11-3 little under five minute run off of a Canesha Edwards layup, two Sade Means free throws, to go along with a Karina Mill layup and Spencer jumper, was not enough for Appalachian, as they fell for the 22nd straight time to the Lady Mocs.
Means second half scoring helped propel Appalachian offensivley, scoring eight of her team-high ten points in the second, to go along with four rebounds, one assist and one block. It was the fourth time all-season that the Atlanta, Ga. native led Appalachian in scoring.
Along with poor shooting, foul trouble proved to be an achilles heel as well with Williams, Mill and Edwards all fouling out of the contest.
The Mountaineers continue with their grueling road schedule as they play another top SoCon team Saturday January 24, taking on the Davidson Wildcats at Belk Arena, with tip off scheduled for Noon.
