Plummer Nets Double-Double in Setback to Troy

BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's basketball (7-19, 5-10 SBC) suffered a 93-64 decision to Troy (14-11, 9-5 SBC) in the annual Play4Kay Game on Saturday afternoon.

Bayley Plummer turned in a career-high of 18 points with 11 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season. Plummer shot 5-of-11 from the field and 8-for-10 from the charity stripe. After scoring just 11 points over the past three games, Tierra Wilson got back to her scoring ways with 17 points on six shots that included four 3-pointers. Wilson also added five rebounds and two assists. 

The Mountaineers got the start they needed in the first quarter, jumping out to a 21-9 advantage going into the second frame thanks to a string of six straight field goals over a 2:45 span. Wilson spearheaded the charge hitting her first four shots while Nicola Mathews hit a trifecta and Plummer chipping in with a layup. With App leading 8-7 at the 7:04 mark, the Black and Gold pieced together a 13-2 run the rest of the way to go up by 12. 

Troy got back into the game in the second quarter outscoring the hosts, 25-12. The Trojans continued to hit shots, and after Plummer hit a pair at the line to give App a 33-28 lead, Troy ended the half on a 6-0 run to go into the break with a one-point edge. 

Appalachian got back into its groove early in the third quarter with an 8-4 surge in the first 3:35 of the half that gave the Black and Gold the lead following a pair of foul shots from Lainey Gosnell, 41-38. That's when Troy's Amber Rivers started to get into a rhythm where she scored the next eight points for her team. However, App stayed to within striking distance despite Troy going up by as much as six, 56-50. Three straight free throws from Anna Perez Gomez and a layup by from Plummer capped off a 5-1 spurt to bring the deficit to just two. Appalachian would head into the final quarter trailing by only four, 59-55. 

However, the Trojans' five 3-pointers and 55.6 percent shooting floor in the final frame proved to be too much for the Apps, leading to the win for Troy. The Trojans showed why they're the second-best offensive rebounding team as they pulled down 27 offensive rebounds. Appalachian also committed 24 turnovers that led to 24 points for the visitors. 

Amber Rivers led four Trojans in double figures with 27 points and shot 6-of-8 from deep. Troy would hit 12 3-pointers at the end of the day, shooting 42.9 percent. 

App will return to action on Thursday against Arkansas State at 6 p.m. (ET).