WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.- Appalachian State University women's basketball closed out its challenging non-conference slate in style, as the Mountaineers held off a tough Wake Forest team and defeated the Demon Deacons 64-57 Wednesday afternoon at the Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum. The victory is Appalachian's second-straight and first over an Atlantic Coast Conference team since 2004.

The Apps (8-3) saw once their once 21-point lead diminish, and for the first time since early on in the contest, Wake Forest cut Appalachian's advantage to single digits.

It was a 7-0 Demon Deacon run in the opening minutes of the second-half that made ASU's lead just nine points, up 42-33, four minutes into second half action.

Continuing to chip away at Appalachian's once comfortable point cushion, Wake Forest would not let up, pulling within two points at the 8:09 mark, with the Apps narrowly on top 48-46.

WFU scored seven points from the free throw line and was paced by Brittany Waters who tallied five points, as the Demon Deacons tried to rally the comeback.

Waters was Wake Forest' leading scorer with 21 points in the contest.

Despite two treys by Waters, the Mountaineers were able to stave off Wake Forest and big buckets by Ashlen Dewart in the waning minutes, and near perfection at the charity stripe, with Sam Ramirez, Chakeitha Weldon and Anna Freeman all nailing their free throws enabled the Apps to hang on for the seven-point win.

Dewart was phenomenal for Appalachian, recording a game-high 25 points on 11-20 shooting, while hauling in six rebounds and dishing out three assists.

Appalachian State started off the first half strong and after falling behind 9-8, ASU posted an impressive 26-4 run to grab a commanding 34-13 lead with a little under five minutes remaining until halftime

It was all Dewart and Anna Freeman during the spurt, as the duo combined for 20 points during the run.

Freeman also stellar in the game, tallied her first double-double of the season, scoring 21 points, notching a game-best 14 rebounds while also recording four assists, two blocks and two steals.

Canesha Edwards was able to get going on the offensive front as well during the opening period, scoring eight first half points, and the junior closed out the game with 11.

The Mountaineer defense was stifling, holding the Demon Deacons without a basket for over seven minutes in first half play and limiting WFU without a field goal from the 12:19 until the 2:13 mark, when Lakevia Boykin drilled a three-pointer.

Boykin's trey and eight Demon Deacon free throws saw the Black and Gold's 20-point cushion dwindle and WFU grabbed some momentum, with ASU clinging to a 38-24 lead heading into intermission.

Trying to muster a comeback, Wake Forest came out on fire in the second half, and the two squads battled, but the Apps staved off WFU and captured the thrilling win.

For the second straight game ASU limited its opponent to less than 60 points and held Wake Forest to a dismal 24.6 field goal shooting percentage for the contest. Yet again solid on the glass, Appalachian out-rebounded Wake Forest 52-46.

Looking to keep with its stout play, Appalachian returns to the High Country, Wednesday January 5, to host Southern Conference foe College of Charleston. The game is slated to tip off at 7 p.m. from the Holmes Center.