BOONE, N.C. – A second-half rally by ULM was stopped short as a career-day by Alexia Allesch propelled App State to a 67-61 win Saturday afternoon at the Holmes Convocation Center.
Allesch, a Seton Hall transfer, set career highs with 20 points and 16 rebounds. After a ULM cut a 13-point deficit to two late in the third quarter, Allesch beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to stem the momentum and put App State up five, 47-42, to the fourth quarter.
The Warhawks were paced by true freshman
Bre Sutton's career-high 17 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists. True freshman
Katlyn Manuel and sophomore
Linda van Schaik added 11 points each. Second-year freshmen
Kyren Whittington, ULM's leading scorer on the season, was limited due to foul trouble, but scored all 11 of her points in the fourth quarter.
App led 38-25 on a bucket by Michaela Porter with 6:59 left in the third quarter on an offensive rebound following a missed free throw by Allesch. ULM's rally began in earnest after the second media timeout of the quarter. Van Schaik knocked down a 3-pointer from the right corner off an inbound pass, and Sutton followed it on the next possession with a trey of her own to cut the gap to six, 40-34.
After Faith Alston scored on a hook shot at the other end, van Schaik drilled another trey to bring ULM within five, 42-37. Following an App turnover, van Schaik knocked in another deep ball to cut the gap to two, 42-40. The two sides traded buckets with Manuel's offensive rebound and putback made it 44-42. Allesch then drilled the 3-pointer from the top of the key just before the buzzer to put App up 47-42 to the fourth.
The Mountaineers pushed the lead to 11 on a 3-pointer by Emily Carver with 2:57 remaining. ULM had one last gasp, as Whittington hit a trey, Sutton followed with a steal in the press and found Manuel for a layup to get within five, 65-60. Manuel hit one-of-two free throws at the line to bring ULM within 65-61 with 18 seconds to play. However, the Warhawks were unable to complete the comeback as App held on for the 67-61 win.
ULM opened the game with a 7-1 lead on a pair of buckets by Manuel and a three-point play by redshirt junior
Kierra Brimzy. App State then scored 18 of the final 20 points of the quarter to lead 19-9 after one.
The Warhawks bounced back in the second quarter to hold App scoreless for the final 3:40 of the half, as ULM closed the quarter on a 5-0 spurt to get within five, 27-22, at halftime.
ULM shot 7-of-14 from 3-point range (50%) while App shot 5-of-23 (22%) from deep.
The Warhawks visit Lafayette to play the Ragin' Cajuns at 2 p.m. Saturday.
