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Monday, 30 January 2012 23:24 |
The Lady Mountaineers (15-3, 9-1) played some of their best offensive basketball of the season in a relatively easy 78-63 win at Furman (11-9, 7-4) on Saturday. The starting Appalachian frontcourt of juniors Anna and Courtney Freeman, and freshman Maryah Sydnor combined for 58 points to handle for the outmatched Paladins.
“We had a great offensive game tonight,” A. Freeman said. “People want to talk about a new big three like we had last season, but really this season is much different in that we can get contributions from many different people on any given night.”
A. Freeman was coming back from a sprained ankle she sustained in the first half of their previous game against Samford.
“My ankle is still a little tender,” A. Freeman said. “It’s better than it was on Monday; I’m working on getting it better.”
Freeman had 17 of her 22 points in the second half and pulled down eight rebounds in the contest.
C. Freeman broke out of her recent slump to register 16 points and 10 rebounds. It marked the fifth time in her career that the junior registered a double-double.
“I have been in a slump the last couple of games and coach has been harping on me to be more aggressive,” C. Freeman said. “Tonight I tried to be more aggressive on offense and do things like attack the offensive boards.”
Appalachian’s streak of good offensive basketball has coincided with the promotion of Sydnor into the starting lineup after their recent setback against Davidson. The freshman has responded by averaging 16 points per game in the four games since being named starter.
“I feel completely settled in,” Sydnor said. “The coaches and players have made me feel really comfortable.”
The Apps enjoyed a 37-28 halftime advantage, but their lead was cut to 40-36 at 17:13 mark of the second half thanks to some App miscues. The Lady Mountaineers then went on a 10-0 run over the course of the next three minutes to put the game out of reach for Furman.
“We had our breakdowns at some points,” Sydnor said. “We were able to come together as a team and we pulled through it together.”
Appalachian had a 51-32 rebound advantage including 18 offensive rebounds that led to multiple second chance opportunities. The Mountaineers shot a scorching 51 percent from the field for the game.
“Rebounding is always important.” C Freeman said. “[rebounding] was definitely a focal point coming into tonight’s game.”
Junior Kelsey Sharkey contributed four points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench. Senior Canesha Edwards provided her usual spark for the second unit by grabbing six rebounds and scoring four points.
The Lady Mountaineers defeated rival Western Carolina 58-39 last night in the Holmes Convocation Center. Next, they travel to Statesboro, Ga. to face nemesis Ga. Southern on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Story: TYLER WOOD, Sports Reporter
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