BOONE, N.C. – Sophomore Brey Dorsett matched her career high with 14 points and UNCG held a halftime lead over regular-season Southern Conference champion Appalachian State, but the Mountaineers rallied past the Spartans in the second half for the 80-57 win. With the loss, UNCG will be the sixth seed at the upcoming SoCon Championship.
Dorsett was joined in double figures by Janae' Stevenson, who had 11 points and Monique Floyd, who had 10.
Anna Freeman had a double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds, both game highs. Sam Ramirez had 17 points, while Kelsey Sharkey, Ashlen Dewart and Courtney Freeman had 12 points each. Dewart also had a double-double with 10 rebounds.
The Spartans (13-15, 10-10 SoCon) found themselves down 21-10 just 8:32 into the contest, but eight straight points from Dorsett kick-started a 25-6 run that turned an 11-point deficit into an eight-point lead at 35-27 with 1:03 left in the first half.
UNCG still held an eight-point edge with 22 seconds left in the half, but App got a Sharkey layup and a Ramirez steal and layup just before the buzzer to cut it to 37-33 at the half.
The Apps (23-5, 17-3 SoCon) regained the lead on a Sharkey layup less than 3 minutes into the second frame, and the teams would trade the lead over the next few minutes. An Anna Freeman layup with 13:18 left gave the Mountaineers the lead for good at 49-48, and App outscored UNCG 25-6 over the next 11 minutes to turn a close game into a blowout.
The Spartans went scoreless for a span of 5:18 during that span as Appalachian State ran away with it.
UNCG shot just 26.5 percent (9-for-34) from the floor in the second half, while App scorched the nets to the tune of 61.8 percent (21-for-34).
Like it did in this season's first meeting with the Spartans, App dominated the paint, outscoring UNCG there 56-20.
Despite losing its last three games – to the top three teams in the league – UNCG finished with its best SoCon record since a 13-5 effort in 2006-07.
UNCG entered Saturday's contest with a chance to finish anywhere from fourth to sixth in the league, with the knowledge that a top-five finish would mean a first-round bye in the SoCon Championship. With the loss, UNCG finished tied for fifth with Furman at 10-10 in league play, but lost the tiebreaker with the Paladins to secure the sixth seed.
The Spartans will face 11th seed Wofford at approximately 6 p.m. Thursday in the SoCon first round. UNCG swept a pair of regular-season contests from the Terriers, winning 80-67 on Dec. 18 and 60-51 on Jan. 29. The teams last met in the SoCon tournament in 2009, when UNCG took an 83-64 win in the first round in Chattanooga, Tenn.
This season's tournament will also be played at Chattanooga's McKenzie Arena.
AGATE
APPALACHIAN STATE 80, UNCG 57
UNCG (13-15, 10-10 SoCon)
Brey Dorsett 6-10 0-0 14; Janae' Stevenson 4-9 3-8 11; Monique Floyd 5-9 0-1 10; Sidnei Harmon 4-9 0-1 8; Natalie Headley 1-3 2-3 5; Breonna Patterson 1-3 0-0 3; Kendra Smith 1-8 1-2 3; Dayshaun Richbow 1-6 0-2 2; Sarah Folwell 0-2 1-2 1; Nneka Awuruonye 0-1 0-0 0; Amanda Leigh 0-3 0-0 0; Jazz Weaver 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-64 7-19 57.
APPALACHIAN STATE (23-5, 17-3 SoCon)
Anna Freeman 9-15 0-0 19; Sam Ramirez 7-17 2-2 17; Kelsey Sharkey 6-9 0-0 12; Courtney Freeman 6-10 0-0 12; Ashlen Dewart 5-13 2-2 12; Canesha Edwards 2-2 0-0 4; Michelle Taylor 0-1 2-2 2; Chakeitha Weldon 1-5 0-0 2; Jessica Barrios 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-72 6-6 80.
UNCG.......................... 37 20 - 57
Appalachian State............. 33 47 - 80
3-point goals--UNCG 4-17 (Brey Dorsett 2-4; Natalie Headley 1-2; Breonna Patterson 1-3; Kendra Smith 0-4; Dayshaun Richbow 0-1; Amanda Leigh 0-3), Appalachian State 2-8 (Anna Freeman 1-1; Sam Ramirez 1-7). Fouled out--UNCG-None, Appalachian State-Ashlen Dewart. Rebounds--UNCG 36 (Dayshaun Richbow 9), Appalachian State 48 (Anna Freeman 15). Assists--UNCG 14 (Dayshaun Richbow 5), Appalachian State 25 (Sam Ramirez 11). Total fouls--UNCG 8, Appalachian State 19. Technical fouls--UNCG-None, Appalachian State-None. A-1032
- UNCG -
