Rapid reaction after the App State women’s basketball team (1-2) knocked off the Lees-McRae Bobcats (1-3) for their first win of the season in Holmes Convocation Center.
Stout Defense
App State made it tough for the Bobcats to get anything going. The Mountaineer defense forced Lees-McRae to shoot 33.9 percent from the field.
The perimeter defense was solid as Lees-McRae didn’t notch a 3-pointer until late in the second half. The Bobcat’s final numbers from beyond the arc were 2-16.
The Mountaineers also held the Bobcats to no fast break points.
Sydnor Leads the Way
Junior forward Maryah Sydnor played a team-high 33 minutes while scoring 29 points, which also led the team. She added 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals.
The Mountaineers tried to get Sydnor going early with some fast break passes, and after a tough 0-3 start from the field, she caught fire and finished 13-20.
Sydnor was also 3-3 from 3-point range.
The Good
The Mountaineers controlled the game after they took a 15-13 lead roughly midway through the first half – a lead they would not surrender for the rest of the game.
App State shot 53 percent from the field and were comfortable below the basket tonight as they outscored Lees-McRae in the paint 42-26.
The Mountaineers also outscored the Lees-McRae bench 28-9.
Sydnor scored a team-high 29, while junior guard Katie Mallow and sophomore center KeKe Cooper also hit double digits, contributing 11 points each.
The Bad
There weren’t many things that didn’t go right for the Mountaineers. However, they did turn the ball over 19 times, compared to 18 turnovers for the Bobcats.
App State didn’t draw very many fouls in the first half, finding their way to the charity stripe only five times. They hit two of those attempts.
They did recover and finished with 17 total trips to the line.
What’s next?
The Mountaineers will travel to Gardner-Webb on Tuesday. The game is set for 7 p.m.
Story: CORY SPIERS, Opinion editor