JOHNSON CITY, TENN. - Appalachian State University women's basketball got its first win of the 2014-15 season on Wednesday night against East Tennessee State, 76-70.

The Mountaineers (1-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) trailed the Bucs (2-1, 0-0 Southern) for the majority of the game but were able to get their first lead with 8:54 left to play to come behind and win in thrilling fashion.

The Buccaneers' Serena Clark scored two points just 15 seconds into the game to give ETSU its first lead, but the Mountaineers would tie the score at six with a layup from Joi Jones.

From there ETSU would take a 10-6 lead and would not let the Apps pass them until late into the second half. The Bucs continued the score, finding points from both their post players and their guards to lead 21-15 with 8:18 left in the first half.

Despite trailing ETSU for most of the game, Appalachian did not let them out of their reach, never trailing by more than six points. With 4:16 left in the first half Bria Huffman would hit a jumper to put the Mountaineers within three points for a score of 27-24.

Appalachian tied the score at 29 off a three-pointer from Katelyn Doub with 2:28 in the first, but the Bucs would enter the half with a 34-29 lead.

Katie Mallow and Maryah Sydnor each notched nine points in the first half to lead the Mountaineers while the team shot 36.4 percent from the floor.

ETSU was led by Destiny Mitchell's 10 points as the team recorded a 42.9 field goal percentage.

Appalchian came out in the second half with vengeance, scoring the first three points of the half from Sydnor. Despite only trailing by two points the Mountaineers continued to struggle to take the lead as the Bucs found points from behind the arc from Shamauria Bridges. 

Ashley Bassett-Smith got her first minutes of the game in the second half, immediately coming out to score four points, putting the Apps down by three points with 15:50 to play.

The rest of the game would be a battle as a team would score and the other would immediately respond. Appalachian found points but it seemed like they would not be able to catch up to the Bucs until free throws from KeKe Cooper and Mallow would give the Mountaineers their first lead with a score of 55-54 and 8:54 to play.

From there the Mountaineers would take charge, as Mallow and Sydnor collectively scored 16 of Appalachian's next 18 points to lead the Bucs, 72-64 with a 1:32 to play.

The Mountaineers would hold on to the game, thanks to two free throws from Cooper with 30 seconds left, to get the 76-70 win over ETSU.

Sydnor led the team with 25 points, while Mallow added a career-high of 21 points. Sydnor also led the team on the boards, tallying eight rebounds and Mallow added a game-high six assists.

The Mountaineers shot 43.3 percent from the floor on the night, while grabbing 34 boards and turning the ball over 21 times.

ETSU was led by Serena Clark's 18 points and 10 rebounds, while the team recorded a 40.4 field goal percentage, notching 45 rebounds and 24 turnovers.

The Mountaineers return to action on Saturday, Nov. 22 for their home opener vs. UNCW at 2 p.m.