MACON, Ga. – Playing on the road for the first time this season, App State put forth a valiant effort but fell short 61-57 to Mercer on Thursday night at Hawkins Arena.
The Mountaineers' only lead in the game was 2-0 in the opening minutes, but they never gave up the fight as the score remained within reach the entire way against a Mercer (1-1) squad that has made the NCAA Tournament in three of the last four seasons as the Southern Conference tournament champion.
On a night in which she scored a career-high 22 points,
Janay Sanders nearly willed App State (1-1) to victory with clutch baskets down the stretch. She hit a pair of driving layups with about eight minutes left to bring the Mountaineers to within one point at 48-47, and then again to make it 52-51.
With 45 seconds left in the game, a beautiful backdoor cut pass from
Faith Alston to Sanders and her ensuing layup again cut it to a one-point game again at 55-54, but the Bears made six of eight free throws down the stretch to seal the outcome.
Freshman
Emily Carver scored 12 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for the Mountaineers in her second collegiate game. All four of her field goals were from beyond the arc, including a clutch triple with 18 seconds left that made it 58-57 before Mercer closed out the game with three free throws.
Both teams shot a low percentage in the first half as the defenses held strong, but the third quarter turned quickly to a frenetic pace. With 42 combined points in the frame, App State caught fire toward the end of the quarter, and a Carver 3-pointer pulled the Mountaineers to within three at 46-43.
A tenacious, trapping App State defense forced 22 Mercer turnovers, but the Bears' 60-40 rebounding advantage helped keep the home team on top.
Three Bears posted double-doubles in their winning effort – Jaron Dougherty with 15 points and 20 rebounds, Sierra Votaw with 15 and 10, and Shannon Titus with 13 and 13.
App State returns home for a Sunday afternoon tilt with North Carolina Central. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m., televised by ESPN+.
