ARLINGTON, Texas - Appalachian State University women's basketball (5-7, 0-1 SBC) fell in a valiant performance in the Sun Belt opener, 74-63, to UT Arlington (8-3, 1-0 SBC) Thursday evening in the College Park Center.
Bria Carter put in her second double-double of the season with 10 points and team-high 10 boards, while Joi Jones scored a team-high 12 points to round out the leading scorers.
The Apps withstood an early Maverick 16-2 start in the first quarter where the Sun Belt Preseason favorites made five of the first eight field goals while limiting Appalachian to a 1-for-6 start before Amber Driver scored three of her seven points with a 3-pointer to stop the run.
However, the Apps didn't back down to the hosts as they outscored the hosts 31-19 the rest of the half, which was highlighted by a 20-8 run stretching into the second quarter. Appalachian began the surge by going on a 12-4 run to slice the deficit to six at the end of the first quarter, 20-14.
Appalachian continued the momentum into the second quarter hitting 6-of-8 to start the second frame during a 10-2 run. Cydni Cole's layup with 6:07 left capped off a string of five-straight made buckets and the Apps' first lead of the game, 26-24. UTA responded by scoring eight of the next 10 points to go in front, 32-28. But App State was able to cut the lead to a possession thanks to Jones' trifecta and a Bayley Plummer layup before the horn sounded.
During the comeback, App State held UTA to 5-of-25 from the field since the 6:05 mark in the first quarter. Appalachian picked it up on offense shooting 12-for-23 from the floor. Appalachian also held Sun Belt's Preseason Player of the Year Rebekah VanDijk to 3-for-9 shooting in the first half.
UTA held the lead for the entire third quarter, but the Apps stayed on its heels despite facing a lead by as much as six, 53-47, with 1:34 left in the frame. Appalachian continued to battle back as the senior duo of Carter and Jones scored five-straight points including a layup by Jones with three seconds left that floated over the long arms of VanDijk to close the gap to one, 53-52, going into the final quarter.
In a quarter that featured two ties and eight lead changes, the Apps had the Mavs right where they wanted them, with a 57-55 lead following an and-1 by Ashley Bassett-Smith. Bassett-Smith later found Driver in the corner for a wide-open shot to give App the 61-60 advantage after a pair of traded baskets between both teams.
With 6:43 left in the game, both teams wouldn't score again until 2:09 left in the game. Appalachian had UTA on the ropes, but the Mavericks went on a 14-2 run to end the game with the win, forcing App State into five turnovers and scoring nine points off the miscues.
App State outrebounded the Mavs, 40-36, and held the edge in second chance points, 13-12. However, UTA forced 22 App State turnovers into 26 points while outscoring Appalachian 31-12 at the free throw line and 21-6 beyond the arc.
Tip-Ins
- Carter has registered both of the Apps' double-doubles this season.
- The bench's 21 points marks the first time the reserves have scored 20 points in consecutive games.
- Bassett-Smith's two blocks moved her past Brittany Mixon (2005-09) into fifth place all-time with 108 career blocks. She is now 21 away from passing KeKe Cooper.
- For the second-straight game, the duo of Plummer and Driver played well off the bench, combining for 15 points and 11 boards. Plummer tied her career high with nine rebounds and scored eight points, while Driver chipped in with seven points.
