BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's basketball (10-14, 5-8 SBC) fell to Georgia State in heartbreaking fashion, 59-55, on Saturday afternoon at the Holmes Center in the annual #Play4Kay contest.
Madi Story had one of her most efficient games of the season where she scored a game-high 25 points, grabbed nine boards and chipped in with two assists. The junior wing shot 8-for-13 from the field, tied a career high with five 3-pointers and went 4-of-5 from the free throw line. Story played a hand in 52 percent of the Apps' points (25 points, two assists) and has scored in double figures in eight straight games.
In a game of runs, it ultimately came down to free throws where GSU shot 14-of-20 from the line while App shot just 11-for-23. The Panthers hit 10 of their 14 free throws in the final quarter. App would go just 1-of-4.
With App trailing 47-45 at the 6:39 mark of the fourth quarter, Bria Carter hit a free throw before Joi Jones' coast-to-coast layup gave App a 48-47 edge. Story rose up for a clutch trifecta that capped off a 6-0 spurt and gave the Black and Gold a 51-47 lead. Appalachian stayed in front of the Panthers until with 1:30 left and up by three, 55-52, GSU ended the game on a 7-0 run to claim the win.
Appalachian did have a chance to tie on multiple occasions including a chance at the line while trailing 57-55, but App couldn't convert.
The Mountaineers and Panthers were in a defensive struggle in the beginning of the game as both shot 23.1 percent from the floor. But App held the two-point edge, 12-10, going into the second frame thanks in large part to a Q. Murray (Baltimore, Md./George Mason) 3-pointer with 41 ticks left on the clock.
App used a 6-0 surge to go in front with a 20-14 lead after Armani Hampton muscled her way for a layup off an offensive rebound. However, the Panthers climbed back to tie the game at 20-apiece before App went into the break with a 24-23 advantage.
The Mountaineers came out fast with a 9-0 run in the first 2:04 of the third quarter. Murray started the run with a layup followed by five of the next seven points from Story including a 3-pointer. A free throw from Ashley Bassett-Smith free throw with 6:10 left in the period gave Appalachian a 10-point lead, 37-27.
Georgia State sliced the lead to 40-38 with 26 seconds until Story heaved a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Black and Gold a 43-38 advantage. Appalachian held the lead for 29:46 while the GSU only held the lead for 2:16. The Panthers responded to App's runs during the game before hitting late free throws to pull away.
App State notched 15 offensive rebounds and mustered up a 14-10 edge in second-chance points. Georgia State was led by three players in double-figures with Tiffany Holston scoring 14 points. App did a good job on Holston on the glass as she only registered four boards. Holston came into the game snagging 10 boards per game in conference action.
The Mountaineers will look to bounce back next week in the final road trip of the season in Alabama. App will play Troy next Thursday at 7 p.m. (ET).
Tip-Ins
- Story led the team with a PER (Player Efficiency Rating of 27)
- The Mountaineers 34-30 edge in rebounding makes it the 13th time in 15 games that they have outrebounded their opponent.
- Saturday was the first time all season the Apps didn't record a block.
- Murray's three steals makes it the fifth-straight game the redshirt-sophomore has notched multiple swipes.
