Box Score BOONE, N.C. - For the first time since the 2011-12 season, five student-athletes scored in double figures for Appalachian State University women's basketbal (2-6) as the Mountaineers defeated Richmond 73-59 on Thursday night inside the Holmes Center.
App State Starters: #3 Bria Carter, #10 Joi Jones, #23 KeKe Cooper, #34 Madi Story, #42 Mia Marshall
Richmond Starters: #1 Bria Powell, #4 Janelle Hubbard, #11 Micaela Parson, #21 Salita Greene, #32 Ronnie Harrison
The Apps dominated Richmond (6-4) in all facets of the game shooting a season-high 46.3 percent from the field while the 73 points were also a season best. Appalachian held a dominating 45-31 edge on the glass and posted a 10-point advantage in second-chance points with 16 off 15 offensive boards.
Carter had her best game of the season in her first start of 2015-16, pouring in a season-high 12 points, seven boards and handing out a career-high five assists. Cooper kept her efficient shooting going with a season high of 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the floor with nine boards, while Kaila Craven came off the bench to tie a team high with 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the floor.
Marshall dominated the boards once again producing her second double-double of the season with a career-high 12 points and 10 boards. It's the third consecutive game the center has notched double-figure rebounds. Story got in the mix with 11 points, four rebounds and two assists, both of which were slick passes to Carter and Marshall.
The Apps finally got off to the fast start they've been wanting shooting 7-for-11 (63.6) in the opening quarter, including five-straight buckets to end the period. With the game tied 6-all, The Black and Gold outscored Richmond 12-5 over the final 4:57 of the frame. Marshall played a pivotal role in the run putting up six points en route to Appalachian taking an 18-11 lead into the second quarter.
Coming out of the huddle, the Spiders got back into the contest with a 9-0 spurt over the first 3:15 of the second period to take its only lead at 20-18. From that point on, the Apps stopped the momentum scoring 10 of the next 13 points to go in front by five, 28-23. Richmond would cut the App State lead to a possession, 28-26, but a layup from Cooper and a free throw from Carter gave Appalachian a 31-26 lead going into the break.
Cooper and Marshall led the team with eight points apiece at halftime while the Mountaineers assisted on six of its first 12 field goals.
Appalachian started to gain separation midway through the third quarter when Craven and Farrahn Wood hit consecutive trifectas that sparked a 19-9 run while tied 33-33 over the final 7:40 of the third period to take a commanding 52-42 lead going into the final quarter.
App State went 9-for-13 from the line during the run and limited Richmond to nine points on 3-for-10 shooting from the floor after the Spiders scored seven points in the first 2:20 of the second half.
Until the final horn sounded, it was all App State as the hosts were never threatened in the fourth quarter pushing the score to 74-57, and eventually giving the Apps their second win of the season over an opponent that went to the postseason in 2014-15.
“Tonight was a great effort from our team,” said head coach Angel Elderkin. “I am really proud of the work we put into practice and to see it transfer to the game. We are building our identity and I love our process moving forward.”
App State will look to keep the momentum going on Sunday in its final non-conference game against Furman at 2 p.m. inside the Holmes Center.
Tip-Ins
- App State last had five players in double figures in an 89-65 win over ETSU on Nov. 21, 2011.
- December has been kind to Craven, as the scorer is averaging a team-high 14.6 points per game .The freshman put up 6.6 points per game in the first five games of the season.
- The starting five of Jones, Carter, Story, Marshall and Cooper shot a combined 19-for-38 (50 percent) from the floor.
- App State moved the ball well once again recording 11 assists on Thursday. The Apps are dishing out 11.75 assists per game over the previous four contests as opposed to the eight helpers per contest in the first four game of the season.
- Over the previous four games, Cooper is shooting a scorching 75 percent (18-for-24) while turning in 10 points per game and corralling 8.5 off the windex.
- After not recording a double-double in the first 61 games of her career, Marshall now has two in the last six games.
Tweet of the Night
