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Davidson Pushes Past Women’s Basketball, 65-49

Raven Gary posted nine points for the Mountaineers against Davidson.
Raven Gary posted nine points for the Mountaineers against Davidson.

Jan. 7, 2013. DAVIDSON — Appalachian State University women’s basketball was tied at 32 heading into the break, but Davidson surged ahead in the second half, outscoring the Mountaineers by 16 points to earn a 65-49 win over the Apps on Saturday.

Despite a strong effort from the team, the Mountaineers were unable to recover against Davidson, who pushed ahead in the second half of a contest that saw six lead changes and the score knotted four times. 

The loss is Appalachian’s third of the 2012-13 campaign, but drops the Mountaineers to 1-1 in conference play, while Davidson improves to 5-7 overall and 2-0 in SoCon. The defeat also puts Davidson at a three game winning streak; tying their last run beginning in 2007.

The Wildcats entered the second half with all engines lit, going on a 10-0 run to move ahead of the Apps, 45-34.

A Raven Gary jumper trimmed the Appalachian deficit to nine points, but that would be as close as it would get, as a second Davidson streak dimmed the Apps hopes of earning a win, pushing the score to 55-38 with just over six minutes to play.

Wildcat forward Sophia Aleksandravicius netted 18 points for Davidson, including 11 in the second half to pace the Red & Black.

The Mountaineers opened the game with explosive energy, while the Appalachian defense applied pressure early. Maryah Sydnor lead the Black & Yellow with 12 points in the first half, as Anna Freeman added seven for the Mountaineers, along with four rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.

First half action was knotted four times, but saw App lead by as much as seven points with 2:09 remaining before Davidson’s Hannah Early dropped a three, making it a single possession game for the Wildcats (30-28). Sydnor followed with a layup to edge Appalachian by four (32-28) before sending Alex Long to the line for two (32-30). Alexsandravicius laid it in once more off a fast break to make it a 32-all game, and the final tie of the contest.

Davidson managed to grab 36 points in the paint, along with tallying 16 off of fast breaks.

For the Appalachian offense, Sydnor finished in double figures with 15 points on the night. A Freeman, along with Gary, posted nine points for the Mountaineers, along with 11 boards, four steals, and three blocks. 

App State faces a quick turnaround as the Mountaineers head straight to Greeneville, S.C. to face Furman on Monday, January 7 at 7:00 p.m. 

Notes: Appalachian, who lead the SoCon in field goal percentage, shot a season low 31.7 percent from the field, while making 87.5 percent of their free-throw shots. The Mountaineers pulled down 32 rebounds for the night, and scored 17 off the bench.