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Women’s Hoops Falls to Second-Seeded Red Wolves, Season Ends in New Orleans

Bria Huffman scored 12 points in the Mountaineers' loss to Arkansas State on Wednesday. Photo Courtesy Sun Belt Conference
Bria Huffman scored 12 points in the Mountaineers’ loss to Arkansas State on Wednesday. Photo Courtesy Sun Belt Conference

Appalachian State University women’s basketball fell to second-seed Arkansas State on Wednesday with a score of 67-53 at the Lakefront Arena in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference championships.

The Mountaineers (14-16, 9-12 Sun Belt) started the second half by cutting the Red Wolves’ (22-9, 17-4) lead to just five points, but then let Arkansas State go to the foul line too many times, helping them get the win.

Katie Mallow started the game with a three for the Mountaineers to tie it up, 3-3 and Maryah Sydnor and Mia Marshall would each score to help App take a 7-5 lead with 16:48 to play. From there the Red Wolves would go on a 12-0 run, keeping the Mountaineers from scoring for four minutes until Joi Jones would hit a shot from behind the arc.

Trailing 19-10 the Apps went on a 8-4 run, but Arkansas State continued to find points, finishing the half with six-straight points to lead 34-23 at halftime.

Sydnor led the team with nine points in the first half while the team shot 26.7 percent from the floor.

The Red Wolves were led by Khadijah Brown-Haywood’s 12 points while the team recorded a 40.6 field goal percentage.

The Mountaineers came out in the second half by going on an 8-2 run, featuring six points from Sydnor to cut A-State’s lead to just five points. Arkansas State responded with four points of their own, before Marshall, KeKe Cooper and Bria Huffman each converted for the Apps as they trailed 42-37 with 13:17 to play.

Arkansas State went on a 10-4 run before the Apps would begin to foul, sending the Red Wolves to the free throw line on their next three possessions as A-State led 58-41 at the 7:15 minute mark.

Farrahn Wood hit a three-pointer with 2:50 to play, but it would not be enough as Arkansas State took the game, 67-52 to end Appalachian’s season.

Sydnor led the team with a double-double, scoring 16 points and tallying ten rebounds. Huffman followed with 12 points, while Marshall added ten rebounds in the game.

The Mountaineers shot 32.3 percent from the floor, recording 43 rebounds and 19 turnovers.

Arkansas State was led by Aundrea Gamble’s 19 points and Brown-Haywood’s 18 points and 13 rebounds. The Red Wolves shot 37.1 percent from the field, recording 41 rebounds and turning the ball over nine times.