MOBILE, Ala. - App State women's basketball put together a furious comeback in the fourth quarter, but fell short to South Alabama on Friday evening in the Mitchell Center, 56-51.
Janay Sanders led the Mountaineers (10-11, 7-8 SBC) with a season-high 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field, grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists.
Lainey Gosnell recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 12 boards while recording three steals.
Michaela Porter registered 11 points, eight off the glass and three swipes.
Trailing by as many as 19 going into the fourth quarter, Sanders started the surge with six of the Apps' first 10 points during a 10-0 run that sliced the gap to nine, 45-36. Both teams traded baskets before
Tierra Wilson's 3-pointer and a layup by Porter gave the Apps five straight points to bring the game to only six points.
After Antoinette Lewis' field goal extended the lead to eight with 2:54 left, the Apps held the hosts scoreless for the next 2:32 of the game. The scoring drought helped the Mountaineers climb to within one possession, 51-48. The Jaguars closed the game by hitting five free throws over the final 22 seconds of the contest to seal the victory.
Sanders scored 13 of her 14 second-half points in the fourth quarter. App State forced nine South Alabama turnovers for 12 points and scored 16 of its points in the paint in the comeback.
The Jaguars (12-9, 9-6 SBC) were led by Antoinette Lewis (23 points) and Jaylen Mallard (18 points). The duo combined for 41 points on 15-of-24 shooting from the field (rest of team: 4-26).
App State returns to action tomorrow at 5 p.m. (ET).
