COLLEGE PARK, MD. - Appalachian State University women's basketball posted a valiant effort, but was unable to pull off an upset Sunday afternoon against No. 22 Maryland, as the Apps dropped a 81-65 decision to its Atlantic Coast Conference foe. The loss snaps a four-game winning streak for the Black and Gold drops ASU to 6-2 overall, while Maryland improves 7-1 on the season.
In a tale of two halves, Appalachian was unable to put together a complete contest.
After heading into halftime down just 39-38, Maryland came out firing in the second half and never relinquished its advantage.
Appalachian unfortunately, came out of the break sluggish and Maryland took advantage, posting an unstoppable streak that proved to be the different maker in the contest.
The Terrapins outscored the Black and Gold 14-2 in the first five and a half minutes of second-half play, pushing their lead to 13 points, making the score 53-40 with a little over 14 minutes to play.
Diandra Tchatchouang paced Maryland during the run, pouring in eight points, all coming from down low.
Tchatchouang scored a game-best 17 points, while hauling in seven rebounds and dishing out two assists.
Ashlen Dewart tried to get something going offensively for the Apps and was able to convert a layup and cut the squad's deficit to its narrowest of the second-half, down 10 points. However, it was not enough as Maryland handed Appalachian the 16-point defeat.
Despite the lopsided second-half, the Black and Gold were nothing short of brilliant in first-half play and gave No. 22 Maryland all the Terrapins could ask for.
It appeared UM might run away with it early on as the Terps jumped out to an early 7-2 advantage but the Apps rallied and knotted play at both the 11 point and 19 point marks.
A 5-0 Maryland streak saw UM grab a 24-19 lead, but Sam Ramirez came alive on the offensive front drilling a trey to cut Appalachian's deficit to just two points.
Maryland was able to push its lead out to five points once more, but Ramirez connected on yet another three-pointer her third of the first half to cut the Mountaineers' deficit to two, down 34-32.
The trey gave Ramirez the 178th of her career, making her Appalachian's all-time career-leader in three-point field goals made, surpassing former-Appalachian great Lindsay Smith in the category. She finished the contest with four three-pointers, totaling 179 in her career at ASU.
Ramirez ended the game tying Dewart as ASU's leading-scorer pouring in 15 points, while grabbing three boards.
Six made Black and Gold free throws in the waning minutes of first-half play, with five coming from Canesha Edwards saw the Mountaineers head into the break down just one.
Edwards was phenomenal yet again for ASU, totaling a double-double, scoring 11 points and notching 13 rebounds.
Maryland would prove to be too much for Appalachian in the second half however, and even though ASU was able to pull within 11 points with less than two minutes play, Maryland went on to grab the win.
With a 12-day break for final exams, Appalachian returns to the hardwood Saturday, December 18, as they head to Greenville, S.C. to square off against Furman. The contest between the Paladins and Mountaineer is slated to start at 2 p.m. from Furman's Timmons Arena.
