‘Cats’ 3-game Win Streak Snapped at ASU, 74-66

Saturday, January 25

Boone, N.C.

2:00 p.m.

Davidson College

9-10, 6-2SoCon

Appalachian State

7-11, 4-4SoCon

Davidson

Appalachian State

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

‘Cats’ 3-game Win Streak Snapped at ASU, 74-66

1/25/2014 5:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID

Box Score (html)
DavidsonPhotos.com

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State's Maryah Sydnor had game highs of 36 points and 15 rebounds, and Davidson was never able to shake out of a tough shooting day in falling on the road, 74-66, Saturday afternoon at the Holmes Center in Southern Conference women's basketball action.

Davidson (9-10, 6-2 SoCon) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end as well as its four-game win streak in the series vs. ASU, which moved to 7-11 overall and 4-4 in league play.

Sydnor finished 13-for-25 from the floor and a perfect 8-of-8 at the charity stripe. She scored 21 of her 36 in the second half, including 14 in the final 5:30 minutes.

Bria Huffman was the only other Mountaineer in double digits with 10 points.

Davidson had a trio in double figures, led by Dakota Dukes' 23 points, hitting 9-of-12 free throws and pulling nine rebounds. Laura Murray dropped in 13 points and added six steals, while Hannah Early finished with 12 points and five boards.

The Wildcats shot just 36.5 percent from the field and never found their touch from long range, hitting only four of their 20 three-point attempts. ASU finished at 41.5 percent, but hit 47.8 percent of their second-half attempts and went 13-for-14 at the line in the half.

Down 52-43, a banked in three-ball by Early capped off a 12-2 run in the second half that gave Davidson a brief 55-54 lead with 6:10 left. It was quickly answered on the other end with a go-ahead jumper from Sydnor and ASU grabbed a 61-56 lead a few minutes later.

The 'Cats were within one (61-60) with 2:56 left on an Early jumper and two Alex Long free throws, but it is as close as they would get the rest of the way. Sydnor hit all eight of her free throws in the final 1:17 to seal the win.

The first half saw Sydnor drop in 15 points as ASU grabbed a 36-29 lead. She had 13 through the first 12 minutes when a 10-5 run gave ASU a 27-19 lead, forcing Davidson to burn a timeout.

A pair of Dukes free throws at 5:49 got the 'Cats to within five (29-24), but App. State answered by pushing the lead out to 10 on a Sydnor bucket with 2:46 left.

Davidson tied a season-high at the charity stripe, going 24-30. It was out-rebounded 46-29, giving up 20 offensive rebounds.

The Wildcats conclude a three-game road trip with a visit to Cullowhee, N.C., to face Western Carolina Monday at 12 p.m.

GAME NOTES: Davidson fell to 22-25 in the all-time series vs. ASU … today's game was the Wildcats' last trip to Boone, N.C., as a member of the SoCon … head coach Michele Savage is now 4-4 vs. ASU … Dukes' 20-point outing was her third of the season … Davidson went 17-for-20 in the second half at the 15-foot line.