NEW ORLEANS — The Arkansas State women’s basketball team didn’t let this one linger.
Four days after waiting until late in the third quarter to pull away from Appalachian State in the regular-season finale, ASU waited less than a quarter to do so in Wednesday's first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. A 14-4 run sparked by senior guard Aundrea Gamble to close the first quarter helped lead the Red Wolves to an 81-61 victory over the Mountaineers.
The victory, its school-record 26th of the season, advances ASU (26-4) to the a semifinal against either No. 4 Troy or No. 5 South Alabama at 11:30 a.m. Friday.
Gamble on Tuesday became the first player to be named the Sun Belt Player of the Year for the third time. Then Wednesday had one of her best games, shaking off a slow start to score 26 points with 10 rebounds and 9 assists for the Red Wolves, who shot 48.4 percent from the floor.
"Love the approach of our team today," Coach Brian Boyer said. "They just seem to handle everything that's thrown at them, and I thought today was another example of that. Ready to play right from the start."
Gamble was scoreless through the games’ first six minutes as Appalachian State took a 14-13 lead. Then the senior guard made a jump shot in transition, a layup off a steal and consecutive three-pointers to help the Red Wolves to a 27-18 lead after the first quarter.
ASU led 46-28 at halftime and coasted through the second half to advance to a third consecutive Sun Belt semifinal.
Khadija Brown-Haywood, who was named first-team all-Sun Belt on Tuesday, added 14 points and 7 rebounds, while Brittney Gill scored 11 points and had 10 rebounds, and Amanda Lawson had 12 points.
Joi Jones led Appalachian State (10-19) with 28 points, including eight in a short spurt of the first quarter that stopped a 7-0 ASU run and helped give the Mountaineers an early 14-13 lead.
ASU, which let Appalachian State 45.8 percent in the last meeting, held it to 36.6 percent shooting and forced 21 rebounds today.
Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.