By David Rogers. DAVIDSON, N.C. — Poor shooting and being outrebounded usually makes for a miserable night on the hardcourt. The Appalachian State women’s basketball team had that thought underlined on Nov. 9 in the John M. Belk Arena, losing to Davidson College, 64-41.
On the surface, the outcome was lopsided but the fast-paced, up-tempo play by both sides was highly entertaining for the almost 400 fans in attendance.
The Mountaineers fought back from a 6-2 early deficit to momentarily take 1n 11-10 lead in the first quarter, but that was all but it for the rest of the night.
Five of Davidson’s rostered players are from Australia, hailing from Perth, Sydney (2), Queensland, and Victoria. Three of them were the Wildcats in double figure scoring on the night, including Suzi-Ross Deegan’s game-high 21 points, Charlise Dunn (16), and Millie Prior (14). Prior also collected a game-high 13 rebounds to record the game’s only double-double of the evening.
With a clear height advantage, Davidson dominated the boards while disrupting Mountaineer shots, often forcing App State’s playmakers to make off-balance attempts. The Wildcats’ 47-27 advantage in rebounding reflected the final score, including 37 defensive rebounds vs. the Mountaineers five offensive boards. Where there were plenty of errant App State shot attempts, those Wildcat defensive rebounds all but eliminated any second chance opportunities for the Mountaineers.
From the time Davidson went on a 12-0 scoring run in the second quarter, the Wildcat momentum grew and the home team’s lead grew with every minute. Their biggest lead of the night, 25, came with just 16 second left in the game.
While the App State moments were few, a couple of performances stood out. Guard Faith Alston scored a team-high 14 points and was not bashful about attacking the basket. Evidence of that: she was fouled five times.
Chae Harris came off the Mountaineer bench to also get into double figures, with 11 points. She hit two times from long distance, the two successful shots from behind the 3-point arc for App State out of 16 attempts. Forced by the Davidson height and size advantage to shoot from outside, the Mountaineers could only find success in the hands of Harris.
After the game, Mountaineer head coach Angel Elderkin acknowledged that the height and size advantage of the Wildcats was bothersome for her charges but it was more, too.
“Their physicality,” said Elderkin. “We didn’t match it.”
Asked what the team took from the experience, Elderkin didn’t hesitate.
“These non-conference games are about preparing for our (Sun Belt) conference play,” Elderkin said. “We will learn from this and grow as a team.”
App State returns to the Holmes Center hardwoods on Dec. 5, vs. College of Charleston with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
BONUS PHOTOS
All photographic images by David Rogers. Click on any image for slideshow mode.
