BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's basketball (8-12, 3-6 SBC) got off to a fast start, but couldn't sustain the momentum against UT Arlington (15-4, 8-1 SBC) in a 73-62 defeat on Saturday afternoon in the Holmes Center.
Madi Story led all scorers with 20 points on an efficient shooting performance, finishing 4-for-7 from the floor including three trifectas and went 9-for-12 from the charity stripe.
Q. Murray scored 12 points, while Joi Jones and Bayley Plummer both chipped in with eight points. Plummer grabbed eight off the glass to lead App State and also shot 6-for-8 from the line.
The Mountaineers got the start they wanted jumping to a 21-15 lead in the first quarter after a 7-for-10 performance from the field and shooting 6-of-7 from the free throw line. App got off to a hot start from the field hitting its four first shots, sprinting to a 10-5 lead in the first 2:54 of the contest. Story scored five of the points while Carter and Jones both notched buckets. UTA would cut the deficit to one, 16-15, with 2:08 left in the frame, but App scored the final five points including four from Murray to end the period with the six-point lead.
However, the Mavericks suffocated the Apps into just 16 points over the next two frames to take a commanding 56-37 lead into the final frame. App committed 15 of its 24 miscues in the second and third periods that resulted in 15 points.
The Mountaineers didn't go down lightly, outscoring the Mavericks, 25-17, in the fourth period. App finished the game on a 15-2 run to dwindle the outcome to just 11 points. In the first and fourth quarters, App outscored UTA 46-32 and shot a combined 46.8 percent from the field (13.6 in second and third quarters).
App turned the ball over 24 times that led to 26 points for the visitors, while Mavericks shot 46.6 percent from the field. UTA showed why it's one of the top defenses in the league, holding App to a 33.3 percent clip from the field.
Appalachian did outrebound the Mavericks, 39-34, including 18 offensive rebounds that led to a 16-9 edge in second-chance points.
The Black and Gold will hit the road next week to Arkansas for games against Little Rock and Arkansas State. Appalachian will play the Trojans at 7:30 p.m. (ET).
Tip-Ins
- Story's 20 points against the Mavericks is the highest in conference play for the wing, while it's the third 20-point outing this season.
- App State has outrebounded its opponent for the ninth time in the past 10 games.
- Ashley Bassett-Smith's three blocks give her 127 for her career and is two blocks away from passing KeKe Cooper for fourth all-time.
- Plummer's three blocks is a career best for the freshman.
- App State shot at least 30 times for the seventh time this season, and the 22 makes are the most since the Apps made 23 against College of Charleston (11/27).
- Jones' eight points now make the senior 20th all-time in scoring, passing Regina Ikard (1989-92) and Bethan Schoolfield (1995-98).
