STATESBORO, Ga. - Appalachian State University women's basketball rallied in the second half to get a 77-74 win over Georgia Southern on Thursday at Hanner Fieldhouse.

The Mountaineers (10-9, 5-5 Sun Belt) trailed the Eagles (4-14, 1-8) for the majority of the game, but were able to tie it up with six minutes to play, handing Georgia Southern its eighth Sun Belt loss.

The game started close, featuring a 10-10 score at the 14:34 minute-mark. The Eagles pulled ahead, 18-12 off a layup from Georgia Southern's Sierra Kirkland, but Bria Carter responded with four-straight points to put the Apps down 18-16 with 6:41 to play in the first.

Georgia Southern hit shots, but Carter would score again, keeping the Mountaineers within three points. The Eagles went on a 6-0 run and would lead at halftime, 30-24.

Bria Huffman led the Apps with seven points in the first half as the team shot 30.3 percent from the floor.

Angel McGowan led the team with eight points at the half, while the team recorded a 39.3 percent field goal percentage.

Appalachian came out in the second half with a three-pointer from Katie Mallow to trail by just three points, but Georgia Southern continued to respond, scoring five points. WIth 14:40 to play, Mallow hit a jumper and Farrahn Wood converted on a shot from behind the arc to tie the game for the first time since the first half, 40-40. 

Georgia Southern pulled ahead again, this time leading for the next seven minutes as Appalachian struggled to keep up with the Eagles. It would not be until Mallow hit a three-pointer at the 6:08 minute mark that the Apps would tie the game. From there Joi Jones scored three-straight points, but the Eagles tied the score again with a three-pointer.

Jones hit two free throws and Huffman followed them up with a jumper to help the Apps to a 70-66 lead with 1:51 to play. Carter would widen the lead when she got an offensive rebound and putback and Mallow would seal the deal with two free thows with 43 seconds to play.

The Mountaineers closed out the game, winning 77-74.

App State was led by four players in double-figures as Huffman and Carter each scored 16 points, a new career-high for Carter. Carter added 11 rebounds for her first career double-double, while Huffman recorded nine.

Jones and Mallow followed with 13 points each, while Ashley Bassett-Smith tallied a career-high seven blocks.

The Mountaineers shot 39.1 percent from the floor, grabbing 43 rebounds and turning the ball over just eight times.

The Eagles were led by Angel McGowan's 19 points, while the team recorded a 39.3 field goal percentage, 48 rebounds and 17 turnovers.

Maryah Sydnor did not see playing time after suffering from a lower body injury. 

Appalachian returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 5 when the team travels to UL Lafayette.