BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's basketball (5-12, 2-6 SBC) endured a cold shooting night in a 65-50 decision to Georgia Southern (6-11, 3-5 SBC) Monday evening in the Holmes Center.
App State couldn't get the ball to drop on Monday as the hosts shot 28.8 percent from the floor compared to the Eagles' 45.8 shooting clip. Madi Story scored a team-high 16 points on five buckets and shot 5-for-6 from the line. Joi Jones rounded out the leading scorers with 11 points, a team-high eight rebounds and four assists.
Both teams came out swinging in the first quarter combining to shoot 15-for-26 from the field and score 43 points. Trailing 7-4 with 6:42 left in the period, the Apps put together an 11-2 run over a 2:57 span to take their largest lead of six, 15-9. Story scored eight straight points during the run that led to 13 of the team's 18 first quarter points.
However, Angel McGowan, coming in as one of the top scorers in the conference, hit four straight 3-pointers that eventually gave GS the lead for good, 21-18. The Eagles outscored Appalachian, 16-3, over the final 3:37 of the period to go into the second quarter with a 25-18 advantage.
The second quarter was different with each team failing to reach at least 15 points. Appalachian and GS hit just five shots in the second quarter. Despite holding GS to just 27.3 percent shooting from the field, Appalachian went 2-for-17 from the field in period. App State especially went cold with a 4:50 scoring drought and a string of seven straight missed field goals that led to the Eagles going into the half with an 11-point lead, 36-25.
Appalachian's shooting woes carried over hitting on just 4-of-15 from the floor in the third period. Trailing 38-25 in the opening minutes of the period, a layup by KeKe Cooper followed by a jumper from Bria Carter trimmed the lead to single digits, 38-29. When it looked like the Apps were getting something going, the Eagles responded scoring four quick points to push the lead back to double digits, 42-29.
The Mountaineers couldn't get any momentum on offense, as the visitors continued to stretch the lead, eventually taking a 17-point lead into the final quarter. GS stayed on top of the hosts in the fourth quarter, holding a lead by double digits the rest of the way en route to its third conference win of the season.
Angel McGowan led three student-athletes in doubles figures for the Eagles, scoring a game-high 20 points on 8-of-16 from the field and four treys.
The Eagles' eight-made trifectas is a season-high for an opponent in the Holmes Center. Appalachian would force 18 Georgia Southern turnovers but score just 12 points off the mistakes while GS took advantage of 15 App State miscues into 21 points.
App State will look to right the ship this Thursday with a 6:15 p.m. (ET) tip at Troy.
