Appalachian State Runs Past Davidson in SoCon Action, 83-66

Wednesday, January 19

Davidson, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Davidson College

6-10, 2-6SoCon

Appalachian State

13-4, 7-2SoCon

Appalachian State

Davidson

Shneeka Center hit a season-high seven field goals, three of them from three-land, on her way to a career-high 19 points.

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Appalachian State Runs Past Davidson in SoCon Action, 83-66

1/19/2011 9:53:30 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin -- Assistant SID

DAVIDSON, N.C. — Sam Ramirez led five Mountaineers in double figures with 24 points and Appalachian State used a 21-6 run in the first half to put away Davidson in taking an 83-66 decision on Wednesday evening in Southern Conference women's basketball action at John M. Belk Arena.

Davidson fell to 6-10 overall and 2-6 in league play, while Appalachian State won its seventh contest in the last eight, improving to 13-4 overall and remaining in first in the SoCon with a 7-2 mark.

Ramirez hit 9-of-12 shots, including 6-of-8 from behind the arc, for her 24 points. ASU as a team hit 10 three-pointers, with Ashlen Dewart hitting three on her way to 17 points. Also reaching the double-digit mark was Chakeitha Weldon (11), Anna Freeman (10) and Canesha Edwards (10).

For the second game in a row the Wildcats put four in the books in double figures led by Sophia Aleksandravicius (Pound Ridge, N.Y.) and Shneeka Center (Smithtown, N.Y.) with 19 points apiece. It was a season-high for Center, who was a season-best 7-of-17 from the field and 3-for-8 from behind the three-line. She also matched a season-best with nine boards.

Aleksandravicius had her eighth straight game scoring in double figures and added five boards to go along with a pair of blocks and steals.

Kristen Johnsen (Wayne, Pa.) and Laura Murray (Harrisburg, Pa.) poured in 12 and 11 points, respectively, to round out the four double figure scorers for Davidson. Johnsen added a game-high 10 boards for her third double-double of the season, while Murray matched her season-high with five assists.

Davidson as a team dished out 17 assists and have collected 33 in the last two games.

Johnsen gave the 'Cats an early 11-8 cushion on a jumper with 15:47, but Appalachian State used a 13-0 run to take a 21-11 advantage.

Five straight points by Center got Davidson to within three, 21-18, a few minutes later, but Ramirez and ASU took control by closing the half on a 21-6 run for a 42-24 halftime lead. Ramirez scored all 13 of her first-half points in the last six-and-half minutes of the period.

Despite scoring 42 second-half points, Davidson was never able to get the Mountaineer lead below 15 as it dropped its fourth straight game to ASU in the all-time series.

Appalachian State shot 58.6 percent in the second half and 49.3 percent for the game. It countered Davidson's 42-point output in the second period with 41 of its own. The Mountaineers also took advantage of 26 Wildcat turnovers, turning them into 25 points.

Davidson on the other hand forced ASU into 21 turnovers and got 24 points off them. The Wildcats also pocketed 11 steals, the ninth time they have picked up 10-plus steals in a game.

Davidson will next play at Wofford this Saturday, Jan. 22, for 6 p.m. contest.

GAME NOTES: Davidson fell to 17-22 all-time vs. Appalachian State ... in an unusual night, there were no foul calls through the first 10:30 minutes of the first half ... the Wildcats went 15-of-18 from the charity stripe, hitting all 15 free throws in the second half ... Barbara Sitton dished out a game-high tying six assists ... Aleksandravicius has led the team in scoring 10 times this year ... Johnsen's double-double was the fifth of her career ... ASU held a 16-2 edge on the Wildcats in fastbreak points ... Davidson fell to 4-4 at home after going 1-2 in its recent three-game homestand.