BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - App State women's basketball defeated Gardner-Webb 73-63 behind a career-high 19 points from Emily Carver.
Carver stepped up to provide a much-needed offensive spark off the bench for the Mountaineers as Brooke Bigott exited the game early with an injury. Carver's previous career high was 16 points against UNC Asheville on Nov. 28.
App State overcame a slow start to use a 21-4 run over a 5:43 span to take a 41-27 lead heading into the break.
Gardner-Webb held a 17-12 advantage after the first period, but App State heated up offensively to outscore the Runnin' Bulldogs 29-10 in the second.
Gardner-Webb would erase a 16-point deficit to tie the game at 53 apiece and eventually lead. A Michaela Porter free throw broke a 61-61 tie with 3:02 left to play as the Mountaineers closed the contest on a 13-2 run to secure the victory.
Three Mountaineers posted double figures Sunday, Carver (19), Janay Sanders (17) and Porter (12).
Sunday's win, the third straight, lifted App State to an 6-3 overall record, the best start since the 2018-19 season in which the Mountaineers finished 22-14. The win also gave the Mountaineers the 6-5 all-time series lead over the Runnin' Bulldogs.
App State tallied 34 bench points, posted 40 points in the paint and shot 46 percent from the field. The Mountaineers also out rebounded Gardner-Webb 40-33.
The Black and Gold will take a week off before hosting Wofford on Dec. 12, next Sunday, at 2 p.m.
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