Box Score - Appalachian State 70, South Alabama 59 (.pdf)

BOONE, N.C. – Holding a six-point advantage at the half, Appalachian State used a 14-4 to start the second half and pull away from the South Alabama women's basketball team and hand the Jaguars a 70-59 defeat Thursday night at the Holmes Center.

"We allowed Appalachian State to end the first half on a run and them we got off to a bad start at the beginning of the second half," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said.  "Our players fought there towards the end of the game, but we just had too many lapses in judgment and turned the ball over.  

"It's just disappointing because I thought we took their first punch with the run at the start of the game.  We were able to come back and take the lead.  We traded blows from there, but just didn't physically respond in the second half."

The Jaguars (3-15. 0-9 SBC) will now break for a week before returning to action on Jan. 29 when South Alabama host Louisiana-Lafayette at 11 a.m. as part of its annual "Pack the House" game.

With the loss, South Alabama has now dropped 13-straight games.  The Jaguars are also now just 1-17 in their last 18 Sun Belt Conference outings.  USA has also dropped 15 consecutive road games dating back to last season and 23 of its last 24 away from the Mitchell Center.  The loss at App State also extended South Alabama's conference road losing streak to 11-straight games.

Breanna Hall led South Alabama with 10 points – her 14th double-figure outing this season.  Juliann Miller added nine points off the bench, while Rachel Cumbo and Chyna Ellis each had eight points apiece.  

The Jaguars ended the game shooting 40 percent from the field, but committed 25 turnovers – the 10th time USA has committed 20 or more turnovers in a game this season.  App State recorded 27 points off those miscues.

The Mountaineers (9-8, 4-4 SBC) shot 50 percent in both half, connecting on 28 of their 56 attempts for the game.  Maryah Syndor led all players with 19 points and 10 rebounds – her seventh double-double of the season – on 7-o-f11 shooting.  Syndor was also 5-of-6 at the foul line.

Bria Carter also chipped in with 13 points.  She was 6-for-7 from the field and led the club with five steals.

The Mountaineers opened up the contest with a 6-0 run, but the after missing its first five shots, South Alabama would answer back with a 14-2 run over a four-and-a-half minute stretch to take the lead.  Rachel Cumbo and Juliann Miller recorded five points apiece during the Jaguar run and Colby Davis knocked down a six-foot pull up jumper with just over 12 minutes showing on the clock to give USA the six-point advantage (14-8).  

Coming out of the under 12 media time out, Syndor knocked down back-to-back buckets to end the South Alabama run, but Grace Farnsworth's three at the other end of the floor pushed the Jag lead to 17-12 with 10 minutes to go in the first half.

The Jaguars would extend their lead out to seven (22-15) on a three from Hall at the 7:25 mark, but App State would begin to chip away at the deficit over the next several minutes

Syndor – who led all scorers with 11 first-half points – tied the contest back up at 25-25 when the senior converted a conventional three-point play at the 3:55 mark.

Leading 29-27 with just over two minutes reaming before the half, South Alabama would get sloppy at both ends of the floor.  The Mountaineers would take advantage and close the period on an 8-0 run to take a six-point lead into the half.

Bria Hoofman tied the contest up at 29-29 with a pair of free throws and on the Jags next possession, Syndor intercepted a Jaguar pass and fed the ball across the midcourt line to Mallow for a layup.  Syndor added another bucket and then with her at the line, for the front end of a one-and-one, USA was unable to come down with the rebound of the miss and Katelyn Doub put the ball back up off the glass to give the Mountaineers a 35-29 lead with less than a minute to go.

Both clubs shot the ball well during the first as App State shot 50 percent, connecting on 15 of its 30 attempts.  USA was 10-of-27 from the field for 43.5 percent.  

While USA shot the ball well, it wasn't able to hold control well, committing 17 first-half turnovers.  The Mountaineers did most of their damage close to the basket, recording 26 of their 35 points in the paint.

The Mountaineers opened up the second half on a 14-4 run and stretched their lead out to 49-35 with less than 14 minutes to play,  Syndor continued to the offensive leader for the home team and scored the first six points for App State.  Joi Jones capped off the run for Appalachian State when she intercepted a Jag pass – one of the Mountaineers' 17 steals in the game – and went the length of the floor for another layup.

From there, App State would hold control and build its lead to as much as 22 (65-43) with seven minutes, 17 seconds left in regulation.  

The Jaguars finally were able to get some offense going and kept battling with less than four to play.  Marquita Daniels' three from the left corner at the 3:51 mark, began a 9-0 run for South Alabama to end the contest and trim the final margin to 11.

NOTES: The meeting between South Alabama and Appalachian State marked the fourth in the all-time series between the two programs.  App State leads the series 3-1.  Breanna Hall returned to the Jaguar lineup after missing the Arkansas-Little Rock game due to injury.  With her 10 points, she has now recorded double figures for the 14th time this season.  The Jags committed 25 turnovers versus the Mountaineers – the 10th time USA has committed 20 or more turnovers in a game this season.  App State recorded 27 points off those miscues.  With the loss, South Alabama has now dropped 13-straight games.  The 13-game losing streak is now tied for third longest in program history.  The Jaguars are also now just 1-17 in their last 18 Sun Belt Conference outings.  USA has also dropped 15 consecutive road games dating back to last season and 23 of its last 24 away from the Mitchell Center.  The loss at App State also extended South Alabama's conference road losing streak to 11-straight games.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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