LAFAYETTE, La. – Turnovers and a 3-point barrage from Louisiana (7-8, 2-1 SBC) doomed Appalachian State women's basketball (2-12, 0-3 SBC) in a 61-45 setback on Thursday evening inside the Cajundome.
Bayley Plummer posted her sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while
Nicola Mathews registered her third game in double digits with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor and a pair of 3-pointers.
LaPresha Stanley dished out a game-high four assists with nine points and three rebounds.
The difference was a Louisiana team hitting a season-high 14 3-pointers going 14-for-26 (53.8 percent). UL came into the game shooting just 30.6 percent from 3-point range on the season.
App would also commit 24 turnovers in the game, which led to 23 points for the hosts.
The Mountaineers had the Ragin' Cajuns right they wanted them, as they built their largest lead of the game, 43-35, with 3:54 left in the third frame. Plummer started a 6-0 spurt while the Apps were up 35-33.
Maya Calder was on the receiving end of a nice feed from Mathews before
Lainey Gosnell drove for a midrange jumper to cap off the run.
But the Cajuns' 3-point shooting kept them in the game as they would hit two more in the final 3:31 to trim the deficit to one possession, 43-41, going into the last frame.
UL took a commanding lead in the fourth when Troi Swain started a 9-0 run in the first 5:30 of the frame. Plummer's layup would cut it to five (50-45), but it wouldn't be enough as the Cajuns scored the final 11 points to end the game.
Appalachian once again won three of the four quarters in the game but wasn't able to keep the momentum going. The Black and Gold posted a 32-24 rebounding edge including 12 offensive rebounds but scored just two second-chance points.
The Mountaineers will look to close out the weekend at 1-1 against UL Monroe on Saturday at 1 p.m. (ET).