Mountaineers Edged at Home in Sun Belt Opener

BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's basketball (2-10, 0-1 SBC) suffered a 69-54 decision to Texas State (8-4, 1-0 SBC) in the Sun Belt opener on Friday evening inside the Holmes Center.

Bayley Plummer posted her third straight double-double and fifth of the season with 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The sophomore center shot her best percentage of the campaign at 71.4 percent thanks to a 5-of-7 performance from the floor. Tierra Wilson scored an App-high 14 points with four of her five field goals from beyond the arc. Maya Calder had her best performance of the season coming off the bench with a personal-high nine points and nine rebounds. Along with Lainey Gosnell's nine points, which was the most since returning from her lower body injury, the duo combined for 18 points and 13 boards coming off the bench. Nicola Mathews did a great job finding her teammates with a personal-high seven assists, including some nifty passes down lown. 

Facing one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the nation (10th) and the top shooting team in the Sun Belt averaging 10 3-pointers per game, the Mountaineer defense held the visitors to a season-low four 3-pointers. TXST also came in leading the league shooting 36.6 percent from 3-point range but was limited to 20 percent shooting (4-20). Doing the damage for Texas State was Taeler Deer, who poured in a game-high 29 points on 13-of-18 shooting. The rest of the Bobcats shot just 14-for-39 from the floor.

Texas State started off hot going 7-for-8 in the first 5:11 of the contests to take a 17-7 lead. The Bobcats continued to lead by double digits throughout the quarter until Wilson scored the final eight points of the opening frame for App to turn a 21-9 lead into a six-point deficit, 23-17, going into the second period. 

App continued to fight back in the second quarter eventually tying the game on two occasions, including crucial rebound and putback from Calder to knot things up, 33-33. Both teams went back-and-forth the rest of the way as the Mountaineers (9-15) and Bobcats (8-12) each shot 60 percent or better from the field. After TXST took a 41-35 advantage, a trifecta from Gosnell followed by a free throw by Mathews dwindled the lead to one possession, 41-39. Appalachian outscored TXST, 22-18, in the period to pull to within striking distance.

Both offenses cooled off in the third quarter with each team scoring just nine points and posting sub-30 percent shooting performances. It was a quarter of runs as TXST started the second half with a 9-2 run over the first 4:50 of the quarter to go in front, 50-41, holding App to one for its first six from the field. However, the Black and Gold ended the quarter with a 7-0 spurt to climb to within two once again, 50-48. Plummer scored five straight points before LaPresha Stanley capped off the run with a running layup found by Mathews. Appalachian held TXST scoreless for the final 5:10 of the quarter and a 0-for-6 stretch.

But turnovers and a cold-shooting spell doomed the chances for the Mountaineers to take control of the game in the final quarter. App missed its first six shots of the quarter when TXST shot 5-for-7 during the same stretch. The opening 4:37 of the quarter led to TXST jumping out to a 65-49 lead and never looking back. Texas State scored nine of its 20 points off turnovers in the final quarter, while forcing App into 20 miscues overall.

App shot just 22 percent in the second half (51.7 in first half). The Mountaineers did hold a 15-4 advantage in second-chance points and outscored Texas State's reserves, 18-9. 

The Mountaineers return to action on Sunday as they face Sun Belt Preseason favorite, UTA at noon inside the Holmes Center. 

Tip-Ins
- Plummer led the team with a PER (Player efficiency rating) of 19
- Calder tallied a career-high plus-3 
- Mathews' seven helpers are the most by a Mountaineer this season while it's the most since 2016-17
- Wilson has posted seven double-figure scoring outings
- App State is 3-4 all-time against Texas State and falls to 1-3 in Sun Belt openers

TICKETS
Fans can still purchase a 2017-18 Appalachian State basketball season ticket, which reserves a seat for all 26 regular-season games at the Holmes Center (13 men's, 13 women's), costs just $175 for courtside. Non-courtside season tickets are $100 for adults, $80 for senior citizens (ages 60 ) and Appalachian State faculty/staff and $50 for youth (ages 3-12). Appalachian State basketball season tickets can be purchased online by clicking here, by phone at (828) 262-2079 or in person at the Appalachian State athletics ticket office, located at the Holmes Center (Monday - Friday; 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.).